Question about the red plastic American drinking cups

[Dannydeman]

I have a question about something I see in many American TV shows and movies. Why are the drinking cups at a party always red and made of plastic? Is there any particular reason for that? In the Netherlands we avoid plastic and always use normal glass as much as possible. Only in some small dance-cafe's or big events we use transparant cups.

Don't you guys think beer (and all other liquer for that matter) doesn't taste good when drinking it from a plastic cup? And why are they always red and so big? It's hard to do some good mixing with a non-transparant cup :)

[ramsy66]

I think it's because they don't smash when you drop it while wasted off your face. :laugh:

[Rudy]

Plastic is cheap and non breakable so it's a good way to serve beer at outdoor parties or event (even a hockey game or something). Though it's not very good for the environment.

I'm pretty sure most people use transparent plastic cups when they're going to make mixed drinks though (unless they're premixed)

[Phalesafe]

http://www.dixie.com/prdct-cups-snacks.html

Check the name of the red ones lol "Party Cups"

[Dannydeman]

But why do I only see the color red in movies and Tv-shows, or is this a coincedence. Whoever has a monopoly on this cups must be very rich :p

[bdsams Veteran]

cheap, hard to break, cheap ect

[markwolfe Veteran]

Because it is a bunch of TV shows? In the TV shows, the car always explodes after it crashes. What's the reason for that?

'cause it is just TV. :p

[BigBoobLover]

But why do I only see the color red in movies and Tv-shows, or is this a coincedence. Whoever has a monopoly on this cups must be very rich :p

They do come in other colors (blue is pretty common as well), but Dixie is probably the Microsoft of the disposable cup market in the US. "Dixie cup" is almost a generic term for a disposable plastic or paper cup these days.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_cup

Plastic cups are often used for gatherings where it would be inconvenient to wash dishes afterward, due to factors such as location or number of guests.

I'd say that college frat parties (and other similar parties) fit that description pretty well.

Edited January 19, 2010 by BigBoobLover

[acnpt]

At university we still managed to use glasses, for spirits/shots etc.

Most beer/cider drinks in the UK we just drink out of the cans or bottles.

We'd have to pay for plastic cups lol.

[KamiQuazi]

Some places require that alcohol be in a red container and the red dixie cups are cheap and disposable.

[Growled Member]

At every huge gathering (especially family reunions and such) I've ever been to they use these red plastic cups. I suppose they are cheap and then there is no cleanup afterwards. I guess it's just natural to see them on TV in the same circumstances for us here in the US.

[Draconian Guppy]

All your other color plastic cups are belong to us, except for red :p ?

Seriously, the OP does have a point, at walmart they have tons of different assorments and colors, yet in tv shows and/or movies it's always red? ( maybe it's secret coca cola advertising :p )

[AgentGray]

some frat parties i remember, you paid for your cup rather then the drinks to cover the booze bill

As for "why always red" *shrug* most likely a perception issue.. only shows up because you thought you noticed a patern and your brain dons't see things that don't fit it.

[witalit]

Wow Ive also noticed this, I guess its true about the not breakable thing!

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

A lot of pubs here give you your pint in a plastic cup if you're drinking outside (To prevent theft of their glasses, smashed glass outside, and glass-related attacks, of course!).

No idea why they are red in the US though - maybe to hide the contents? :p Or they're easy to spot? No clue sir.

[still1]

Its because the party in here get so crazy and plastic cups are the safe bet.

[Charlie Knows It!]

I believe this was initially to conceal the contents of the cup amongst underage drinkers, although nowadays the complete opposite is true - you can pretty much guarantee the contents of a red cup will be strongly alcoholic! They also double as the perfect Beer Pong cups which is naturally hugely important! You can pick them up in the UK now too...there's a website called www.redcups.com who sell these cups over here which is pretty cool!

[asusmc]

When you take a drink outside of the bar here, they give you a plastic cup so you dont take the glass ones.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

I think the best answer was that Dixie cups are red and Dixie is the Microsoft of plastic cups.

Credit to BigBoobLover, post #8.

[Brian Veteran]

I think the best answer was that Dixie cups are red and Dixie is the Microsoft of plastic cups.

Credit to BigBoobLover, post #8.

I dunno about that skipper... A dixie cup is the little cup you get at the dentist. (for me anyway) The red cups just seem to be on the shelves (along with white or blue) but red it a very easily noticed colour... Customers tend to naturally gravitate to it. In the bars I never see red plastic cups though, just beer branded ones or regular transparent plastic. The red cups are constantly at parties though.

(Qualifications: Partier)

[GuJu]

I have a question about something I see in many American TV shows and movies. Why are the drinking cups at a party always red and made of plastic? Is there any particular reason for that? In the Netherlands we avoid plastic and always use normal glass as much as possible. Only in some small dance-cafe's or big events we use transparant cups.

Don't you guys think beer (and all other liquer for that matter) doesn't taste good when drinking it from a plastic cup? And why are they always red and so big? It's hard to do some good mixing with a non-transparant cup :)

American's drink beer to get drunk.

They don't do it for the taste (Natural Light, Milwaukee's Best. etc) and they sure don't mix drinks.

want to get wasted. red big cup.

[drbobiii]

In case you didn't know, American beer (for the most part) already tastes bad without the plastic.

And it's hard to play beer pong in transparent cups! I imagine the manufacturer just chose the color because it's easy to spot in a store.