Is it safe to drink alcohol from disposable plastic cups at a party?
Use caution. Alcohol can pull microplastics and PFAS-related chemicals from disposable plastic cups.
What is in it
Disposable party cups are often made from polystyrene, polypropylene, PVC, or plant-based plastic. Alcohol is a strong solvent. That means it can pull more material from plastic than plain water does.
One party is not the same as daily use. The better habit is simple: serve alcohol in glass, stoneware, or stainless steel cups when you can. If you only have disposable cups, pour the drink close to when it will be used and avoid warm drinks in plastic.
What the research says
A 2026 Environmental Research study tested alcohol that had contact with disposable plastic cups. The team found chemicals from microplastics and PFAS in the alcohol. In male rats, repeated doses of these alcohol leachates every 48 hours for 8 weeks were linked with changes in memory tests and the hippocampus, a brain area tied to learning.
This is an animal study, so it does not prove the same effect from one human drink at a party. It does support a safer choice: keep alcohol out of disposable plastic when a reusable cup is easy to use.