A beer league (North American English) or pub league (British English) is a form of sports league primarily funded by sponsorships from pubs, taverns and bars. The bars often provide funding for a team's uniforms and equipment, and often a free drink for each player, in exchange for advertising the establishment on the uniform and usually naming rights to the team itself. Beer leagues can be of virtually any sport but are usually amateur and recreational in nature, not being tied to a larger competitive league system, and contested by adults. The consumption of alcohol is often encouraged during the contest, as the actual competition is secondary.
Examples of beer league operations include the English Sunday league football, Canadian senior ice hockey (which encompasses both organized leagues under the Allan Cup and beer leagues), American men's and co-ed softball and Town Team Baseball.