InstagramForget your birthday. Forget Christmas (Hanukah, Kwanzaa, etc.) Forget Arbor Day and Flag Day and Canada Day and Talk Like a Pirate Day. Today—July 11—is the greatest holiday of the year. Because today—July 11—is 7-Eleven's Free Slurpee Day (oh thank heaven!).
The Free Slurpee Day concept is fairly simple: If you go to 7-Eleven today, between 11AM and 7PM, you can get a free Slurpee. "It helps us reconnect with people who love the Slurpee," 7-Eleven's brand and marking rep explains
And it doesn't hurt profits either. Sales were up 38 percent on the store's unofficial "birthday" last year, because you can't guzzle a delicious glass of flavored ice goodness without buying a taquito or jumbo bite hot dog to go with it.
And this year's celebration is especially sweet: The amount of free Slurpee you get has almost doubled in size (so by especially sweet, we mean literally. More sugar!) Last year's free drinks were only 7.11 ounces, whereas this year 7-Eleven will give away standard, 12-ounce "Smalls."
Translation: You'll probably only want to drive around town to two or three different 7-Elevens for free drinks, as opposed to last year's 10 or 12 trips. (For the record, the change in size was made because mothers complained that there weren't lids small enough to fit the 7 ouncers.)
Of the approximately 45 total flavors (with 6 "Lite" flavors for all you health nuts! Don't think that 7-Eleven has forgot about you!), we've crafted 4 gourmet Slurpee recipes depending on what time of day you stop by to pick up your free treat:
[Note: If you're the type of person who chooses only one flavor per Slurpee, skip the rest of the post and skip Free Slurpee Day. You don't deserve it, you monster.]
The Early Bird Special: It's 11AM. You're the first person in line at the Slurpee machine, waiting to get your fix. Which means you're probably going to need a kick to carry you through the rest of the day. Try mixing:
2 parts Blue Shock
1 part Orange Xplosion
1 squirt Twisted Citrus, for flavor
The Afternoon Delight: It's 2PM. Your lunch hour is almost over and you want a little treat to take back to the office. Something to help you make it through the rest of the your day on the grind. Well take a trip to paradise with this tropical mix:
1/3 Summertime Lime and 1/3 Fanta Banana, alternated accordingly
Top with 1/3 Piña Colada
And a splash of Peach Dragon Fruit
The Happy Hour Fix: It's 5:30PM. You're off the clock and read to unwind. Try your hand at an adult twist on a 7-Eleven classic. But please remember: Slurpee responsibly (also you're going to want to remember to grab a taquito with this one. Don't forget). Try mixing:
2/3 Classic Coca-Cola
1/3 Purple For the People Vanilla
Add in some vodka, your choice
Yeah, You're Just Wasted: Consuming Slurpee under the influence (CSUI) predominately occurs in the wee hours of the morning, from say 2AM to 4AM. But we're certainly not going to harass you for being hammered before seven o'clock on a school night.
Just mix all the flavors. Who cares. You're trashed.
Happy Free Slurpee Day!