Consumer Thoughts

In the summer, it’s always nice to relax outdoors with a drink, be it a can of soda, a glass of lemonade or iced tea, or something with more, um, punch. Well, there are several ways to protect your beverage from bugs, and even spills.

First up are Quik Tops can sealers, which attach a pouring spout, and the lid doubles as a little cup you can pour your pop into, although I’m not sure why you’d want to. It’s a screw-top bottle to prevent leaks, and probably a great choice for using in the car too. You can find them in a set of two at Urchin.co.uk for GBP 6.99, or about USD $14.

If Quik Tops seem a bit too complicated and expensive, you’ll be much happier with Top It Can Caps, which are available in a 2-pack for $1.99 at Organize.com. It has the small, filtered opening shown for drinking, and snaps closed to keep in the fizz.

While they won’t help with spills, you can certainly keep the bugs out with these stylish drink umbrellas from Miles Kimball. The set of 4 are color-coded for easy drink identification and come with 100 straws at only $6.99.

And finally, for indoors or out, a wonderful mug set for coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. These 12oz mugs have their own lids which double as coasters. They are available in sets of 4 - each set is only one color - red, yellow, or blue - for $19.99.