Beer drinking competition......I need advice

[Histrionic]

So I'm hosting a "handcuff party" at my apartment this weekend. I heard about this thing from my cousin who went to JMU and participated in one. Its not like it sounds....

The way it works is this: Everyone at the party splits up into pairs of a girl and a guy and then are handcuffed together. Then they are given a 18 case of bottled beer (I'll be using Bud or Budlight for the party). Together they must drink all 18 beers within 4 hours to say they completed the task. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] The first couple to finish gets the win obviously, but all that can finish this task will be revered.

I'm looking for advice on

1.) How to pace myself in this thing. Start off chugging or nursing? FWIW I drink often and think I'm good for 12-13 beers in approx. 3 1/2 hrs. Hopefully the girl I'm paired up with can do the other 6.

2.) What to eat beforehand. What and when should I be eating before this thing? Also, one of my friends advises taking small pieces of bread, packing it into a tight little ball, and eating a few of them throughout the competition. Good idea?

3.) Even though I drink often thats a lot of beer bottles to down in slightly over 3 hrs (I'm trying to win and the winner is likely to be around that time frame). Should I be drinking a lot of beers over these next few days to try to get my body more comfortable to that amount of alcohol AND not to mention that much liquid? Or should I just be drinking a lot of water or whatever to expand my stomach? The competition will be this Saturday night and will have about 10 couples in it.

4.) Bud or Bud light?

All advice is appreciated.