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What is a Drinking Glass?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A drinking glass is a glass which has been designed to hold a fluid for drinking. There are a number of drinking glass styles, ranging from generic drinking glasses for milk, water, and juice to specialized drinking glasses like champagne glasses. Drinking glasses are part of a large glassware family known as beverageware or drinkware. They are differentiated from mugs and cups by their glass construction, and the fact that they lack handles. A drinking glass is often sold as part of a set with coordinating glasses in various sizes and shapes.

Most department stores and kitchen supply stores stock drinking glasses, often in coordinated sets. Glass manufacturers usually make examples of every type of drinkware so that consumers can purchase a matched set, coordinating all of their drinkware to match. It is also possible to purchase individual items, or customized drinkware including hand-blown glasses which are one of a kind. Plastic drinkware can also be purchased, for people who are concerned about breakage.

Stemware, a type of drinking glass.
Stemware, a type of drinking glass.

There are three types of drinking glass: everyday, barware, and stemware. Everyday glasses are designed for utilitarian use. They are often tumblers, characterized by the lack of a stem, handle, or foot, and they may come in a range of sizes. Water, juice, milk, iced tea, and other everyday beverages can be served in everyday drinkware. These glasses are often used as tableware, and they are usually durable so that they will withstand regular hard use.

Drinking glasses are designed to fold fluid for drinking.
Drinking glasses are designed to fold fluid for drinking.

Barware is specifically designed for use with hard alcohol, including mixed drinks, while stemware is formal glassware for serving wines. Barware and stemware are quite diverse, with various designs customized to particular drinks and liquors. Mojito glasses, for example, are slender and tall, while brandy snifters are stemware with large bowls which allow the scent and flavor to develop after the brandy has been poured.

Iced tea is generally served in everyday drinking glasses.
Iced tea is generally served in everyday drinking glasses.

When purchasing a drinking glass or a set of drinking glasses, thinking about the potential to coordinate other glasses in the future is a good idea, as is considering the coordination between the drinking glasses, plates, silverware, and table ornaments. For example, a simple set of everyday glasses in a squared design with blue rims would have different coordination limitations than clear round drinking glasses made with bubble glass. Purchasing things like stemware which come from a large collection is a good idea for people who do formal entertaining, so that matching stemware can be purchased from the same company in the future.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

KoiwiGal

When you are thinking about buying drinking glasses you should also think about how easy they are to clean, particularly if you have kids.

Our kids are also mixing up strange concoctions of different powdered milk flavors and so forth. For a while they had these glasses that had bubbles. Easier to hold, maybe but if the kids left the glasses somewhere the powder would dry on and the dishwasher couldn't get it out of the nooks, so we'd have to clean it by hand again afterward.

Not a huge issue, obviously, but when buying drinking glasses sets its another thing to consider.

pastanaga

I really like being able to use unique glassware (and pretty much every kind of house wares and so on). So, I find Etsy and other online craft markets really good for finding things I know no one else has. A lot of my glasses are handmade and made out of recycled material as well.

I particularly like my glasses that are made out of old vodka bottles. They are made from a lovely see through blue glass and look very snazzy. Plus, I know the money went to a local artisan and that I have done my bit for the environment by buying them.

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    • Stemware, a type of drinking glass.
      By: Elenathewise
      Stemware, a type of drinking glass.
    • Drinking glasses are designed to fold fluid for drinking.
      By: Gina Sanders
      Drinking glasses are designed to fold fluid for drinking.
    • Iced tea is generally served in everyday drinking glasses.
      By: okinawakasawa
      Iced tea is generally served in everyday drinking glasses.
    • Barware is designed to hold drinks containing hard alcohol, like mixed drinks.
      By: leighboardman84
      Barware is designed to hold drinks containing hard alcohol, like mixed drinks.
    • Beverageware or drinkware is appropriate for a variety of occasions and is often sold in sets.
      By: exopixel
      Beverageware or drinkware is appropriate for a variety of occasions and is often sold in sets.
    • Those looking for the best cognac experience should taste from a balloon- or tulip-shaped glass.
      By: Artem Furman
      Those looking for the best cognac experience should taste from a balloon- or tulip-shaped glass.