The history of beer being a big part of the Hash House Harriers

Originally, the Hash House Harriers was created on a British military base and the runs would happen on Mondays with the specific purpose of getting everyone back into working shape after a weekend of excess. This excess meant "drink" and back in those days - as well as today - it was the mindset that one of the best ways to get rid of your hangover was to do a bunch of exercise with both your body and brain, and then have a reasonable amount of beers afterwards to settle your stomach.

I think we all know better today that this is just a self-destructive cycle but we continue to do it anyway.

Why? Because it is fun

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That picture doesn't have anything to do with the Hash House Harrier. It was a protest during the prohibition times in the United States although I do think that had the HHH existed at the time we all would have participated in it, but just would have had less formal clothing on during it.

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Beer has always been a big part of any Hash Event around the world and it will likely continue to be at almost all of them because it isn't really the Hash House Harriers without the circle and some cold brews at the end. Even the chapters that our (dis) organization has in places like Saudi Arabia has been allowed beer at their events even though generally speaking the beverage isn't allowed for citizens. I've never been to a Hash meetup there and probably won't ever go but it is good that they are able to get this sort of outlet.

We actually DO have a few members in our ranks that do not drink for health reasons or even because of Alcoholics Anonymous reasons and these people are never pressured to start doing so for that sake of being part of our ranks. The beer is just a big part of it, but it isn't an essential part of it in that we would never FORCE someone to drink if they don't want to. When the time comes to make someone drink that is in AA or simply doesn't like beer (which is something I cannot understand) they get a pink cup of water to drink and the process is the same as far as making fun of them is concerned.

The beer is something that is an essential part of HHH chapters around the world and without it, it isn't really an HHH event but rather is just a bunch of mostly dudes running around in the forest.

At all the events that I have been to around the world beer is always provided and sometimes even at a monetary loss for the people organizing the event. It is fine to take as much as you want to and there have only been a few instances of where people had to be subtly reprimanded for over-indulging. We don't really care if someone gets drunk, that is a big part of what we do here. We do care of one guy is drinking 12 when the rest of the pack is having 4. In those cases we will take the person to the side and suggest that they contribute more to the pot than the standard entrance fee or request that the bring some of their own beer.

Most HHH operations operate BARELY in the black and ours here in Chiang Mai is no exception. On many events we actually will lose money and this isn't a big deal because we will just ask all members to contribute a few dollars and everyone gladly does so.

Expect the beer at events as it is a big part of the entire process. Even though I have been on hundreds of runs I still look forward to that icy cold goodness at the end of a run. It is the opposite of what you are supposed to do post-exercise from what I have been told but I think you'll have to look pretty hard to find a Hasher that is overly concerned about that.