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Can Ball Aluminum’s Party Cup Take on the Red Solo?

The ubiquitous red Solo cup, that staple of backyard barbecues and college keg parties, now has an aluminum challenger.

Ball Aluminum is betting that their single-use (or single-event) cup will win customers over because it’s sturdier, delivers “superior cold drinks” with a “cold-touch experience,” and is better for the environment: “Unlike plastic, aluminum recycles over and over without losing quality.”

I think that the aluminum cups look cooler, but I’m skeptical about uptake, at least in America; a 30-pack runs $20, about 67 cents a cup; spending five bucks more will get you 300 Solo cups, which come in at 8 cents a pop. Call me crazy, but I don’t think the average American is willing to pay an 800% premium because something is better for the environment.