What Do The Lines Mean on Red Plastic Party Cups? Discover

Have you ever been at a party and wondered, with a red Solo cup in your hand, what those enigmatic phrases truly mean? But worry not—the designers of the recognizable red plastic cup have now revealed the meaning of those mysterious patterns, capping years of rumors.

In terms of party drinkware, the red Solo Cup is considered the best option by most people. These are a party must, whether they are filled with carbonated soda, cool lemonade, or your favorite alcoholic beverage. However, what about those lines? These marks, the source of many rumors and conjectures, have long been connected to everything from the right ratios of spirit and mixer to perfectly poured beer pong.

The fact is considerably more interesting than the rumors, which have often focused on the idea that the cups are designed for the over-21 audience. The company that makes these recognizable cups, Solo, made the decision to solve the riddle on their website in order to eliminate the rumors once and for all.

Solo admitted that there were really three lines on the red cups when they first became popular in the 1970s, calling the line question “one of the greatest mysteries of our time.” Because these lines roughly matched the volume of liquid that was put into the cup—1, 5, and 12 ounces—some people mistakenly connected them to alcohol readings. The 1 oz line was ideal for liquor, the 5 oz line for a glass of wine, and the 12 oz line for beer, according to circulating rumors.

Solo clarified that these lines were not intended to be used for measuring alcohol, nevertheless. The website declares, “These lines mean something different to everyone.” Some may use it as an excuse to responsibly pour at their next tailgate. For others, it translates to a steadier grip while operating the BBQ grill. Additionally, it means that our younger supporters may stack and unstack our cups to form a pyramid without them clinging to one another.

In the modern day, Solo has completely changed its appearance to include no lines at all. Party goers need not worry, however; the cups continue to have unique meaning. Solo claims that “good times are on the horizon, regardless of whether our cup has lines, grips, or a square base.”