How do you feel about sharing cups?

[Stella-Io]

I'm fine with sharing a straw/cup/soda ect... with my sis, *maybe* my dad, but most def not with my mom (mom smokes cigarettes). Thou my sis and I try to sip from different straws or different parts of the rim, if it's an option.

Years ago my BF at the time took a sip of my drink from the straw without asking. I was grossed out. To him it was fine. I got up and changed the drink and straw out entirely. That was the last time he did that (thank god). I mean I get it if it's with your dating person/partner/spouse whatever cause kissing and all, but I actually don't like kissing, esp on the mouth, so that extends to me not liking parts that touch the mouth like rim or straw being shared.

 

[Halloqueen]

I've never been one to share drinks with other people. I'm a bit of a germophobe; I wash my hands very thoroughly, open doors with a bit of clothing or something so as not to directly touch the surface, etc. so the thought of sharing a drink just makes me uncomfortable. I also heard about a classmate contracting mononucleosis back in High School and that sharing drinks is a potential vector of transmission for that (among other things), so yeah, no, keep your drinks to yourselves and I'll keep mine to myself.

If someone wanted to try a drink I had already opened and had been drinking, and if they don't have any problem with the concept, I'd just give them the rest. Assuming there aren't any cups available in the situation, in which case I'd just pour some into said cup for them.

If I was in dire straits, like, dangerously dehydrated and had no choice but to drink from someone's bottle or canteen or something then I guess I'd just have to do so. Anything short of such need, however? No.

 

[g u a v a]

i'm pretty okay sharing cups and drinks with close friends and family. usually i prefer to not share straws--sharing cups feels safer to me somehow.

 

[Xara]

it’s not something i find myself doing very often, if at all, but i don’t mind as long as it’s with someone i know and am comfortable with.

 

[slzzpz]

I definitely do it anymore. I was way more comfortable before but yeah.

 

[NovariusHaze]

Ideally I prefer not to share but if a family member gave be the rest of a drink to finish like a soda or something, I’ll drink it.

 

[Belle T]

So, here's a followup question I figured I'd contribute.

Do your friends/family/random people in the McDonald's parking lot take offense if you refuse to share a cup with them? If so, what do you say to them?

Even when I was quite little, I've always been rather germophobic, so the thought of sharing beverages even with close relatives has always grossed me out. But you say that to this family, and they will act as though you have just accused them personally of being responsible for all the world's plagues and that you would be ashamed to have their disgusting cooties all over your drink! So what I do, when they get like this, is to... just sort of groan and roll my eyes because it's better than arguing. Perhaps my family is a bit more eccentric than others, but I'd be interested to know if anyone has similar experiences.

 

[-Mars-]

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[LadyDestani]

Do your friends/family/random people in the McDonald's parking lot take offense if you refuse to share a cup with them? If so, what do you say to them?

I've never had an issue. People never really ask me. Sometimes they'll offer me a sip of their drink and I politely refuse. I never offer mine and they don't ask so if they're offended I guess they keep it to themselves.

I remember one time I was at lunch with my family. I ordered a Dr. Pepper and my dad ordered a Coke. When the drinks got there, the server couldn't remember which drink was which. So my dad told me to check them because I'm "funny about that stuff." But he said it jokingly. I put a straw in to check, it was the Coke, so I took my straw out and gave him the glass.

Other than little comments like that, I can't think of anyone making a big deal out of it. I've been lucky to never experience someone taking a random sip of my drink, but if they did I would quietly get another. I'm sorry if they think it's rude, but to me it's rude to eat or drink anything that doesn't belong to you and hasn't been offered.

If I had to explain to someone why I feel that way, I would say it boils down to this: If I wouldn't kiss you on the lips, I won't eat or drink after you. It's not a personal reflection on you. We just don't have that kind of relationship.

 

[Croconaw]

Do your friends/family/random people in the McDonald's parking lot take offense if you refuse to share a cup with them? If so, what do you say to them?

I’ve never had this problem, but I would never share a drink or cup with anyone. There is this one person I work with who will drink out of a customer’s unfinished milkshake using the same straw before sending it back to dish. I find it extremely unsanitary, but he doesn’t seem to care. Nobody says anything to him either, lol.

 

[AppleBitterCrumble]

I don't mind sharing with family or close friends! It takes a lot to gross me out and sharing isn't one of them

 

[kayleee]

I typically don’t share drinks with others, especially drinks with straws. However, I will let my family/close friends try a sip of my drink out of a glass and then I’ll use the other side to drink from myself. I never just 50/50 split drinks with people though out of the same cup.

 

[Aquilla]

It doesn‘t bother me one bit to share a cup with family members or close friends. Even if a not so close friend would want to try my drink, I wouldn‘t have a problem with them having a sip. Sharing drinks has never bothered me and up to this day I never gave it a thought. I probably wouldn’t offer my drink to a random stranger though - but who does that anyways?

 

[Belle T]

I’ve never had this problem, but I would never share a drink or cup with anyone. There is this one person I work with who will drink out of a customer’s unfinished milkshake using the same straw before sending it back to dish. I find it extremely unsanitary, but he doesn’t seem to care. Nobody says anything to him either, lol.

Oh good lord, that gives me jitters just thinking about it. At least with friends and family, you can be generally aware of their medical history. But not for random people who happen to dine at your workplace. Even pre-pandemic, that's just gross.

 

[Mikaiah]

i wouldn't do it with anyone that i wouldn't kiss

 

[Neb]

I’ve only shared cups with my parents. The thought of sharing drinks with anyone else just sounds gross to me.

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

I don't like sharing cutlery or cups/straws with other people, although I have felt pressured to do so to avoid hurting feelings. With my bf though, I am very comfortable with it and we share drinks and cutlery all the time. I mean.. we kiss. Which is technically the same thing. So I see no issue. I would never share something like a toothbrush or floss though. I've heard some couples do that... o_o

 

[lana.]

oh, i hate it. even if im really close with someone it just kinda grosses me out. for some reason it grosses me out less to drink out of other peoples drinks? but only people im close with ahaha. the logic doesn't make sense i know. unless it's like my boyfriend or sister i can't stand people drinking out of my cups though. i would say i was more relaxed about it before covid, but i have become a germaphobe since February 2020. i can't even use restaurants cutlery or glasses now without feeling very sick. :<

 

[TurnipBell20]

I don‘t mind sharing cups with close friends and family. As long as I know the person usually brushes their teeth and washes their hands, I don’t see a problem with that. Concerning not even sharing cups with a partner: If you can kiss that person, why wouldn’t you share a cup? I mean, no criticism, I just don’t get it.

 

[Belle T]

I don‘t mind sharing cups with close friends and family. As long as I know the person usually brushes their teeth and washes their hands, I don’t see a problem with that. Concerning not even sharing cups with a partner: If you can kiss that person, why wouldn’t you share a cup? I mean, no criticism, I just don’t get it.

You know, I was going to list some facts about how they are different, but I searched and couldn't find any articles or studies which directly compared the two. (By that, I of course mean that I did two Google searches and then immediately gave up) - I had assumed that the risk of infection tends to be greater from sharing cups than kissing, but I couldn't find any research to back that up.

I would suppose, if not for any specific medical reason, it's a matter of cultural protocol. People are often cautioned from a very young age about the innate dangers of sharing a food and beverages, but your doctor isn't going to tell you to just not kiss your partner without very good reason. Also, uh... this is... subjective... and perhaps a bit on the more risqué side of things, but kissing has a physical and emotional satisfaction that I can picture someone being more willing to take those risks for than sharing a beverage.