A call-slip marked NOW. In an embarrassed manner, one calmly collects their belongings and heads straight to the office of one of the awaiting administrators. Running through all the scenarios during the walk of shame, one cannot come up with a single reason their palms should be this sweaty. Once in the doorway one realizes the reason for their journey, a lone picture with a red cup sits on the desk.
Consumption or Assumption? The poor red solo cup was first introduced in an Illinois-based Solo Cup Co.  in November 1972. The red cup was not alone, however blue, yellow, and peach colored cups were also introduced that day. So why is the red cup the topic of discussion? Many American’s assume that the red cup = trouble. The cup has made appearances in numerous college and high school parties and is associated with the beverage of choice, alcohol.
The Journal of Social Science information writer Joseph Sassoon said, “exposure to red accelerates the heartbeat, alters arterial blood pressure and increases respiratory rate. The emotions associated with red are those that ‘make the blood rush to your head’.
The emotions Sassoon is talking about are desire, love, aggression, and anger. A group of hormonal teenagers seems like the perfect melting pot for this emotional rollercoaster, thus sending out a clear invitation to the red cup.
One cannot look into this all through psychology. One must be logical and focus on reality. College and high school students are cheap and a regular 16 oz. solo cup costs about 36 cents. These cups can be found in all places such as church events, family picnics, and sporting events. But why red is red the clear favorite? This might forever be a mystery but one must think of the other implications of red: Valentine’s Day, ketchup, STOP signs, roses, danger, high heels, bull fighters, and sin.
Red is an invitation to partake and party. But in most cases the liquid inside does not deserve the scrutiny.
Ben Montgmery, author of The Plastic Red cup, wants to remind us of a great American cliché: It’s what’s inside that counts.