Forget about anything but clothes parties and rhyme without reason parties, because “anything but a cup” parties are *so* in. Picture this: You’re a college student and you’ve been invited to your first Anything But A Cup party. In your dorm room that gives you approximately five square feet of personal space, you find yourself wondering what out of your possessions could possibly hold a drink. Like, what kind of party is this?!
Anything but a cup parties have gained millions of likes and views across TikTok, and have become one of the fastest-growing party themes. The only “rule” at an anything but a cup party is that you can’t drink out of a traditional red solo cup. Wild, I know.
If you’re lacking in inspiration for your next anything but a cup party, here are 10 easy, cheap, and creative ideas.
- Spray bottle
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A spray bottle is easily one the most convenient options for an anything but a cup party. If you want to play it safe, you can purchase a brand-new spray bottle, or reuse one from home.
Just make sure that if you’re reusing a bottle that once held a cleaning agent (like Windex or Simple Green), that it is cleaned out extremely well. Needing to call poison control at the party would be a major buzzkill.
- Soap Dispenser
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A soap dispenser with a pump is small enough to carry to a party, and is one of the least messy options for an anything but a cup party. There are a variety of soap dispensers available, from porcelain to plastic, but it’s probably best to go with something plastic to avoid carrying anything too heavy.
Pro tip: Target has a soap dispenser for just two bucks, so you don’t need to worry about what happens to it at the end of the night.
- Gas Can or “Jerry” Can
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A gas can or “Jerry” can is one option that holds a large volume of alcohol (if that’s your thing), and can be reused for future parties and events. Smaller, plastic gas cans can be purchased anywhere, but this one from Target is the perfect size to carry around all night. Just be prepared to get asked, “Isn’t that dangerous?” at least twice throughout the night.
- Condiment bottle
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Classic, diner-style condiments bottles are a simple, virtually mess-free option for your next anything but a Cup party. The mustard and ketchup bottles are often sold together, so you can share the set with a friend or your partner (cute right??). This set from Amazon is only $6, which is a bargain, if you ask me.
If you want something a little more humorous (or free), you could clean out a bottle of ketchup, mayo, mustard, or frankly, any condiment bottle. Leave the label on and clean it thoroughly with soap!
- Sunscreen bottle
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If you’re at a college in a sunny or beach-friendly state, a sunscreen bottle could be a fun option for your next party. Take one of those half-empty sunscreen bottles from the summer, wash it well, and fill it with your favorite adult beverage. Just make sure that you clean out the sunscreen bottle well (sunscreen tastes gross, not that I have any personal experience).
- Baby bottle
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A plastic baby bottle is one of the smaller, sillier options for an anything but a cup party. For sanitary reasons, maybe you don’t want to recycle your baby sister’s bottle. A three-pack of plastic baby bottles can be bought from Target for only $4 — one for you and two of your baby-besties.
- Bucket
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Most people have a plastic beach bucket laying around, or can easily find one for cheap. This is one of the larger options, but can be a bit messy and tricky with the shape. Personally, I recommend adding a straw (or a few) to avoid any unnecessary messes.
- Teapot
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A teapot is a cute option, complete with a handle and a spout. Unfortunately, though, teapots aren’t cheap — so this would be an investment purchase to be reused later. This option brings a whole new meaning to “I’m a Little Teapot.”
- Oil cruet
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An oil cruet, or a glass container used to hold oil and vinegar, would be a great option for your next anything but a cup bash. This glass oil cruet is available on Amazon for only $11, and can double as an addition to your college apartment once the party is over. Major score!
- Fish bowl
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Large, group-friendly drinks are already served in fish bowls in bowling alleys across America, so why not take a page out of their playbook? A fish bowl would be one of the larger “not a cup”-cup options, and can be picked up pretty much anywhere. If heavy glass isn’t your speed, plastic fish bowls can also be purchased for less than $10 on Amazon and PetSmart.
