Sippin' (and chuggin') through the years with a party mainstay — the red Solo cup

Red plastic cups are arranged in Phoenix, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

A red plastic cup showing condensation is displayed in Phoenix, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

A Dallas Cowboys’ fan tosses a ping-pong ball towards a red plastic cup in a game of beer pong during a tailgate party before an NFL football game at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Oct. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

TABOR, S.D. (AP) — It’s red. It’s soft plastic. And it probably contains your favorite beverage.

The red Solo cup belongs on any list of the country’s most distinctly American objects, but it’s actually more than a single object. It is a symbol of the American psyche — a country that loves a good party, summertime barbecues, kegged beer, tailgating and above all, friendship and community.

Sippin' (and chuggin') through the years with a party mainstay — the red Solo cup

Related reading

Collectible Cups Are Sending Sports Fans Into a Frenzy

Your Next Emotional Support Water Bottle Is On This List

Why Americans Say Soccer: British Origins And A New World Cup Beer

Forget ice cream in a helmet, these are the best new MLB collectible concessions

Erling Haaland’s Choice of World Cup Souvenir Is So On-Brand and So American

They Finally Made A Stanley Cup That Doesn't Leak — And It's On Major Sale