Coined by a Saturday Night Live sketch as the “Big Dumb Cup,” Stanley has become one of the biggest names in consumerism. The Stanley brand and company was established in 1913, which begs the question of how an “ancient” 111-year-old company became the newest trending sensation. 

According to the Stanley Cup official website, New York Inventor William Stanley Jr. invented the first metal thermos which could trap the heat of liquids like soup, hot chocolate and coffee into a metal container for days at a time. Soon, this practice would be reversed with the invention of heat resistance and metal insulation, meaning Stanley cups could keep liquids cold as well as warm, which is one of the main reasons the Stanley Cup became so popular upon its invention.

Stanley products skyrocketed in popularity because of social media, especially one viral Tik Tok that revealed Stanley cups could withstand a minor car explosion, remaining in perfect condition.

Recently, however, an internet rumor claimed that the lead used for insulation in Stanley cups could give consumers lead poisoning. This rumor was quickly debunked by the company, which explained that the lead is only stored at the bottom of the cup and does not touch any surfaces consumers may come into contact with. At Green Hope, the rumors have done little to stifle the product’s popularity.

Green Hope junior Jake Major claimed the cup helps him drink more water. “My New Year resolution [was] to drink more water,” he said. “Stanley cups are huge so [now] I drink two of them a day.” According to Mayo Clinic, humans need 2.7 to 3.7 liters of water a day at minimum. The 40-ounce Stanley cups satisfy this requirement in about two to four refills. Many students added that they were more inclined to drink water throughout the day because Stanley cups do a good job of keeping their water cold.

Stanley cups now accompany students throughout their days, whether that be at school or home. “I bring my Stanley cup to school, to dance and I use it at home” Emma Stegall (‘24) professed. “It’s pretty much always there.” Some students even admitted that they would rather use their Stanley Cup over the disposable cups at fast food restaurants.  

Despite accusations of lead poisoning, Stanley cups continue to maintain their popularity among Green Hope students.