Can chemicals from disposable plastic cups damage brain cells?

What's actually in it

Disposable plastic cups are made from polystyrene, polypropylene, or PET. When they hold alcoholic drinks, the alcohol acts as a solvent that pulls chemicals out of the plastic more aggressively than water does. The resulting leachate is a mix of plastic monomers, additives, and degradation products that you swallow with every sip.

Party cups, airline cups, and bar glasses made from plastic all have this problem. The stronger the drink, the more chemicals dissolve.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Res tested leachates from disposable plastic cups that had held alcohol and exposed them to brain cells. The leachates caused neurotoxic effects by disrupting the mir-330-3p/Acsl1 pathway, which controls fat metabolism in brain cells.

When this pathway is disrupted, brain cells can't properly process the lipids they need to function. The result is cell damage and death. The study identified specific plastic-derived chemicals responsible for triggering the toxic cascade.

The combination of alcohol and plastic is especially bad because alcohol dissolves more chemicals from the cup than water or juice would. Glass cups, stainless steel tumblers, or certified food-safe reusable cups are better choices for any beverage, and especially for alcoholic drinks.