Yes, you can usually get a red holiday cup and an iced drink, but there are two different “red cup” things people mean, and the answer depends on which one you’re talking about.

Two meanings of “red cup”

  • Free reusable Red Cup Day cup (promo)
    • On Starbucks Red Cup Day, the free reusable red cup is tied to buying a “handcrafted holiday beverage.”
* Those qualifying drinks include both hot and iced holiday beverages, like iced lattes and cold brews, so ordering an iced holiday drink still gets you the promo cup while supplies last.
  • Regular disposable red holiday cups
    • The classic seasonal red paper cups are designed for hot drinks (lattes, hot chocolate, etc.), so baristas typically will not serve an iced drink directly in that hot cup for quality and safety reasons.
* Iced drinks normally go in clear plastic cold cups, even during the holiday season.

Can you ask for an iced drink in a red hot cup?

  • Most stores will say no if you ask to have an iced drink made directly in the standard red hot cup, because:
    • The hot cups are not made for lots of ice and condensation.
    • Recipes and fill lines for iced drinks are designed around cold cups.
  • Some baristas might offer compromises, like:
    • Make the drink as iced in a cold cup, then give you a cleaned red hot cup on the side (if they’re allowed and stocked).
    • Suggest a similar hot holiday drink if what you really want is the red cup look.

How to be sure at your store

  • Check:
    • The current year’s Red Cup Day rules in the Starbucks app or on their site (they list which drinks qualify and often note that the free cup is available “however you order,” including iced).
* Local store policies, since licensed locations (inside grocery stores, airports, etc.) can have slightly different rules or may not participate fully in promos.

Quick practical answer

  • If you mean:
    • “Can I get the free reusable red cup with an iced holiday drink on Red Cup Day?” → Yes, as long as it’s a qualifying holiday beverage and cups aren’t sold out.
* “Can my iced drink be _served in_ the regular red hot paper cup?” → **Usually no; iced drinks go in cold cups for safety and recipe reasons.**

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.