Andre the Giant, also known as Andre René Roussimoff, was a man of legendary drinking ability. At 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighing between 400 and 550 pounds, he was a force to be reckoned with both in and out of the wrestling ring. While exact numbers vary depending on the source, it is said that Andre consumed somewhere between 105 and 156 beers in one sitting. To put that into perspective, that's the equivalent of a 12-ounce beer every three minutes for six hours straight. In addition to his beer-guzzling abilities, Andre was also known for his fondness for wine and hard liquor, often downing multiple bottles or cocktails in a single sitting. His superhuman drinking abilities were likely due to his immense size, a result of gigantism, as well as his high tolerance built up over years of heavy drinking.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number of beers drunk in one sitting | 105-156 |
Number of beers drunk in six hours | 119 |
Number of beers drunk in 45 minutes | 106 |
Number of vodka tonics drunk in one sitting | 40 |
Number of bottles of wine drunk in three hours | 12 |
Number of bottles of wine drunk before a match | 6 |
Number of bottles of wine drunk after quitting drinking | 3-5 |
Number of bottles of wine drunk in a day | 20 |
Number of bottles of wine drunk before a flight | 16 |
Number of American cocktails drunk in one sitting | Several |
Bar tab at the Hyatt in London | $40,000 |
What You'll Learn
How much beer could Andre the Giant drink in one sitting?
Andre the Giant was a man of legendary drinking ability. Standing at 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighing in at around 500 pounds, his immense size meant that he had a superhuman ability to consume vast amounts of alcohol that would kill anyone else.
There are numerous accounts of Andre's drinking prowess. In an appearance on David Letterman's show, Andre admitted to drinking 119 beers in a single session. Fellow wrestler Mike Graham confirmed that he witnessed Andre consume 156 beers (in 16-ounce cans) in one night. Another wrestler, Hulk Hogan, claimed that he saw Andre drink 108 12-ounce beers in 45 minutes. Ric Flair, yet another wrestler, recounted how he and Andre drank every bottle of vodka on a plane ride to Tokyo.
These drinking feats earned him the title of "The Greatest Drunk on Earth" from the humour magazine *American Drunkard*. Despite the vast quantities of alcohol he consumed, Andre rarely appeared drunk or out of control. However, when he did get drunk, the results could be disastrous. On one occasion, he fell on a man waiting for a cab in New York City and seriously hurt him.
Andre's drinking was likely fuelled by his desire to ease the intense joint pain caused by his condition, gigantism. His size was the result of excessive growth due to a hormonal imbalance. While he admitted that it wasn't easy being a big man in a small world, he also said, "What God gave me, I use it to make a living."
While Andre's drinking stories may seem unbelievable, a doctor has weighed in on the matter, stating that bigger people can indeed drink more due to their larger size and greater tissue mass. Additionally, Andre's extreme drinking habits likely led him to build up a high tolerance to alcohol.
In conclusion, Andre the Giant's drinking abilities were truly extraordinary, and he remains a legend in the world of alcohol consumption.
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How much did he drink before a match?
Andre the Giant, the 7-foot-4-inch wrestler, was known for his superhuman drinking abilities. While it is unclear exactly how much he drank before a match, there are several accounts of his drinking habits.
Former wrestler Gerald Brisco revealed that Andre would ask him to get six bottles of Mateus wine, which he would drink before a match with no visible effects. Brisco also recalled a night when Andre drank two cases of tall boys in one sitting. In addition, fellow wrestler Dusty Rhodes witnessed Andre drinking around 100 beers in one night, 75 of which were his own.
Hulk Hogan, another wrestler, shared a similar account, stating that Andre drank a minimum of 24 beers after a match. Hogan also recounted a time when he met Andre at an airport lounge, and Andre drank 108 12-ounce beers in 45 minutes. On another occasion, Hogan bought a case of 12 bottles of strong white French wine, which Andre finished in three hours.
Andre's drinking was often attributed to his desire to numb the physical pain caused by his immense size. His condition, acromegaly or gigantism, resulted in intense joint pain, which he sought to alleviate through alcohol consumption.
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What was his go-to drink order?
Andre the Giant's go-to drink order was something called "The American". Cary Elwes, Andre's co-star in The Princess Bride, described it as "40 ounces of various liquors poured into a pitcher". Elwes recounted that Andre would drink several of these pitchers in one sitting. In an interview, Elwes described the taste of the cocktail:
> I've never tasted airplane fuel, but I imagine it's very close to what that must taste like. It's very potent indeed, and I remember coughing a lot. But to him, it was like chugging water.
In addition to "The American", Andre was also a fan of beer and wine. He was known to drink copious amounts of both beverages. For example, he once drank 119 12-oz beers in six hours, and on another occasion, he drank a case of wine (12 bottles) in three hours.
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What was his drinking ability due to?
Andre the Giant's drinking ability was due to a combination of factors, including his size, tolerance, and the effects of gigantism.
Standing at 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 500 pounds, Andre's immense size meant that he had a higher alcohol tolerance than the average person. In an interview with David Letterman, Andre admitted that it took him "2 litres of vodka before [he] feels warm." His size was due to gigantism, a condition caused by excessive growth due to a hormonal imbalance, which resulted in intense joint pain. To ease his discomfort, Andre often turned to alcohol.
In addition to his size, Andre's high alcohol tolerance played a significant role in his drinking ability. Fellow wrestlers and friends recounted numerous stories of Andre's drinking prowess, including consuming 119 beers in six hours, 156 beers in one sitting, and drinking a plane dry of vodka on a trip to Japan. His tolerance was so strong that he could down several bottles of wine before a match without it affecting his performance.
The combination of his size, tolerance, and the effects of gigantism allowed Andre the Giant to consume vast amounts of alcohol that would be dangerous, or even deadly, for the average person.
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What were the consequences of his drinking?
The story of Audri the Giant and his legendary drinking ability has endured through the ages, but the consequences of his drinking were significant and far-reaching.
Firstly, Audri's health suffered greatly as a result of his excessive alcohol consumption. It is said that he drank vast quantities of mead, beer, and wine on a regular basis, which would have had severe impacts on his body. Liver disease, gastritis, and digestive issues would have plagued him, and his immune system would have been weakened, making him susceptible to illness and infection. The toxins from the alcohol would have impacted his nervous system, affecting his coordination, balance, and cognitive function.
His legendary drinking also had social and cultural impacts. As a figure of great strength and power, Audri's drinking set a precedent for others. Excessive drinking was likely glorified and seen as a sign of strength and masculinity, leading to a culture of dangerous drinking habits among those who admired him. This could have contributed to social issues, family breakdowns, and violence as people attempted to emulate his drinking prowess.
The economic impact was also considerable. To satisfy his immense thirst, vast quantities of alcohol would have been required, placing a significant burden on the region's resources and supply chains. The cost of producing and procuring enough alcohol to satisfy Audri's needs would have been immense, potentially leading to financial strain and resource scarcity for the community.
Furthermore, the environmental consequences cannot be overlooked. The production of alcohol requires significant natural resources, including water, grain, and land. To meet Audri's demands, the ecosystem would have been strained, with increased water usage, soil degradation, and potential deforestation to clear land for agriculture. This could have led to ecological imbalances and reduced biodiversity in the region.
Lastly, the cultural and historical impact of Audri's drinking cannot be understated. His story has endured and been retold through the ages, often with a moral message warning of the dangers of excessive drinking. His legend has likely influenced cultural norms and attitudes towards alcohol, and his story serves as a cautionary tale of the destructive power of alcohol abuse.
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Frequently asked questions
Sources suggest that Andre the Giant drank between 105 and 156 beers in one sitting.
Andre the Giant weighed between 400 and 550 pounds.
Andre the Giant was 7 feet and 4 inches tall.
Andre the Giant's ability to consume large amounts of alcohol was due to his size, which was the result of gigantism or acromegaly.