Do Actors Drink Real Beer While Filming?

Actors drinking on screen has long been a topic of fascination for audiences. While it is illegal to consume alcohol on film sets, some actors have been known to drink real alcoholic beverages on set, while others opt for non-alcoholic or alternative beverages. For example, in the film Beerfest, actors drank O'Doul's non-alcoholic beer, while in Drinking Buddies, actors including Anna Kendrick and Olivia Wilde drank real beer. In some cases, actors may choose to drink alcohol to achieve a specific physical state, such as Shia LaBeouf's method acting for his role in Lawless, or to cope with the pressures of working in Hollywood. However, due to the repeated takes and potential health hazards, it is more common for actors to use substitutes such as coloured water, tea, or carbonated beverages.

Actors drinking real alcohol on set

In the film 'Drinking Buddies', for example, actors Anna Kendrick and Olivia Wilde were drunk on set, with Wilde claiming that real alcohol was used because it was cheaper than using props. In an interview, Wilde said:

> We were hammered the entire movie.

In the film 'Beerfest', actors drank O'Doul's non-alcoholic beer, and in 'Sideways', actors drank a mixture of real wine, non-alcoholic wine, and grape juice.

In some cases, actors have drunk large amounts of alcohol on set to achieve a certain appearance or behaviour. In the film 'Lawless', Shia LaBeouf drank large amounts of moonshine to achieve a "drunken bloat", and in 'Apocalypse Now', Martin Sheen was so drunk on the first day of filming that he punched a mirror, with his blood and injury making it into the final cut of the film.

Some actors, like Johnny Depp, are known for drinking real alcohol on set because they don't like faking it. While filming a scene for the '90s indie film 'Arizona Dream', Depp reportedly drank about 11 shots of Jack Daniel's.

Actors drinking fake alcohol on set

When a scene calls for alcohol, actors are usually drinking fake beverages known as "prop liquor". There are companies devoted to creating realistic props for movies and TV, including alcohol, newspapers, and cash. These prop liquors are usually coloured water, tea, or carbonated coloured water for champagne. Actors tend to avoid drinking caloric drinks like juice or non-alcoholic beer as they may have to ingest large quantities while filming a single scene.

In some cases, actors may be drinking "real" beers in the sense that they are actual, known brands that have paid for product placement. However, the contents inside are typically still water, juice, or a low-alcohol beer. It is illegal to consume alcohol on film, and doing so would violate union and studio rules. Additionally, insurance companies that insure the safety of everyone on set would not cover it.

Some actors have been known to drink real alcohol on set, despite the rules and potential health hazards. For example, Shia LaBeouf drank large amounts of moonshine on and off the set of the film Lawless to achieve a "drunken bloat" for his character. Similarly, Johnny Depp reportedly drank about 11 shots of Jack Daniel's while filming a scene for the '90s indie film Arizona Dream.

In some cases, actors may be allowed to drink real alcohol to enhance their performance. For instance, Fred Astaire drank eight shots of bourbon before filming a "drunk" dance scene in the 1942 musical comedy Holiday Inn. He was doing "method acting" and needed to lose his famously angelic coordination.

While it is uncommon for actors to drink real alcohol on set, there are exceptions to the rule. Whether it is due to the psychological pressures of working in Hollywood, method acting, or simply the nature of the film being shot, some actors have been known to consume alcohol or even get drunk while filming.

Actors drinking non-alcoholic beer on set

One reason for using non-alcoholic beer is the number of takes required for a scene. As actors may have to drink repeatedly over multiple takes, consuming real beer could lead to intoxication. As actor Nick Offerman notes, "you may end up having to consume that amount 30 times". Additionally, the caloric content of beer could be an issue for actors concerned about their intake.

Union and studio rules also play a role in the decision to use non-alcoholic beer. Allowing actors to consume alcohol while working could result in similar consequences as drinking on the job in other professions. Furthermore, insurance companies that insure the safety of cast and crew may not provide coverage if alcohol is consumed on set.

In some cases, non-alcoholic beer may be used due to product placement deals with specific brands. Even if the beer is real, it is likely that the contents have been replaced with a non-alcoholic alternative or another substance, such as water, juice, or tea.

While non-alcoholic beer is a popular choice, other substitutes are also used. For example, in the film "Sideways", actors drank non-alcoholic wine, real wine, and grape juice to avoid becoming sick from consuming too much non-alcoholic wine.

In conclusion, the use of non-alcoholic beer or other substitutes is a common practice in the film industry to ensure the safety and well-being of actors, comply with rules and regulations, and maintain a professional working environment.

Actors who were drunk on set

While it is illegal to consume alcohol on film, some actors have been known to drink on set, either to get into character or to ease their nerves. Here are some examples of actors who were drunk during filming:

Daniel Radcliffe in "Harry Potter"

The actor who played the boy wizard himself, Daniel Radcliffe, has admitted to showing up to the "Harry Potter" set still drunk from the night before. In an interview, he confessed that he had a very addictive personality and that his drinking had become a problem. He pointed out that there were many scenes where he was "gone. Dead behind the eyes."

Anna Kendrick in "Drinking Buddies"

In the film "Drinking Buddies," which is set in a brewery, Anna Kendrick was accidentally drunk during filming. Unbeknownst to her, the crew had swapped her non-alcoholic beer with real beer. Olivia Wilde, her co-star, confirmed that real beer was used because it was cheaper than using props.

Margot Robbie in "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Margot Robbie, who had to film a graphic sex scene with Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Wolf of Wall Street," took three shots of tequila before filming to calm her nerves. She later advised that "acting 101" was to have "three shots of tequila, and you'll be fine."

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in "Fight Club"

During downtime on the set of "Fight Club," Brad Pitt and Edward Norton were drinking and hitting golf balls into the catering truck. Director David Fincher decided to film the pair, and the scene ended up as one of the most iconic in the movie.

Martin Sheen in "Apocalypse Now"

Martin Sheen was drunk on the first day of filming "Apocalypse Now." He was so intoxicated that he punched a mirror, injuring his hand. The scene, with Sheen's actual blood, made it into the movie.

Shia LaBeouf in "Lawless"

Shia LaBeouf, who played a bootlegger in "Lawless," drank large amounts of moonshine on and off the set to achieve a "drunken bloat" for his character. His drunkenness reportedly scared his co-star, Mia Wasikowska, who almost quit the film due to his intense behaviour.

Actors who got drunk off-set

While it is unclear whether actors drink real beer on set, there are several instances of actors who got drunk off-set. Here are some notable examples:

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

During the filming of the later Harry Potter films, Radcliffe confessed that he would often show up to set still drunk from the night before. He told The Daily Mail, "I can point to many scenes where I'm just gone. Dead behind the eyes. I have a very addictive personality. It was a problem." Fortunately, Radcliffe eventually became sober.

Jennifer Lawrence (Catching Fire)

To get into character, Jennifer Lawrence got drunk on Pina Coladas with some of the cast on the set of Catching Fire. Considering she was drinking rum and coconut milk, it's impressive that Katniss didn't Everdeen all over her bow and arrow!

John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins (Super Mario Bros.)

To cope with the challenges of filming the big-screen adaptation of the classic video game, Leguizamo and Hoskins reportedly drank Scotch on set. Unfortunately, their drinking led to an accident where Leguizamo slammed a van door on Hoskins' hand, resulting in a broken finger.

Anna Kendrick (Drinking Buddies)

In the film Drinking Buddies, Anna Kendrick unintentionally got drunk during a scene. Unaware that real alcohol was being used, she took a giant swig of what she thought was a prop beer and instantly became inebriated. Her co-star, Olivia Wilde, confirmed that real beer and alcohol were used due to being cheaper than using props.

Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now)

On the first day of filming Apocalypse Now, Martin Sheen showed up drunk on a mixture of alcohol and drugs. Despite his intoxicated state, director Francis Ford Coppola kept the cameras rolling, resulting in one of the rawest and most unhinged opening scenes in movie history. Sheen's drunken outburst included punching a mirror, bleeding, and even attacking Coppola.

Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa)

Thornton fully embraced the Method acting approach for his role in Bad Santa. He drank heavily to portray his character, a drunken, foul-mouthed burglar posing as a mall Santa. Thornton told Film 4, "I don't mind a smoke every now and again... But I've traditionally played really extreme characters, and even in a comedy, if you're going to play a guy like this, you can't be sort of drunk, you know? And I wasn't sort of drunk. You have to go completely into it."

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