Starbucks for Life Returns — How to Win the Viral Bearista Cold Cup

Starbucks has relaunched its annual holiday promotion, Starbucks for Life, giving Rewards members another chance to win the coveted Bearista Cold Cup and a slate of seasonal prizes.

The small glass Bearista — complete with a green Starbucks beanie and a striped straw — sparked shortages, long lines and resale listings as high as $500 when it first appeared. The cup retails at $29.95, and even inspired a lookalike from a major retailer.

Announcement and Launch

On Sunday, Dec. 7, Starbucks posted an Instagram teaser showing the Bearista cup revealed behind a lineup of its signature cups, captioned: “Your chance is in the Starbucks app. Tomorrow, 12/8.” The promotion, dubbed the Merrython, launched on Dec. 8 at 4 a.m. PT.

Where To Play

Rewards members in the U.S. can play at www.starbucksforlife.com, and players in Canada can go to www.starbucksforlife.ca. If you’re not yet a Rewards member, download the Starbucks app or sign up at Starbucks.com/rewards to join.

Prizes

According to Starbucks, the promotion runs through Jan. 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Highlights include:

• More than 600 Bearista Cold Cups available as instant-win prizes each day, limited to one cup per person.
• The grand prize, “Starbucks for Life,” awards four winners a daily credit for one food or beverage item for 30 years.
• “Starbucks for a Year” grants 50 winners a daily credit for one food or beverage item for 365 days.
• Other prizes include bonus Stars redeemable through Starbucks Rewards, free bakery or drink items, cake pops and digital gift cards.

How Many Plays You Get

Players receive one prize play and one sweepstakes entry per week, and can play up to two prize plays per day. There are additional ways to earn extra plays during the promotion, depending on in-app activities and offers.

Technical Issues Reported

After the teaser post, some customers reported trouble finding the game in the app or logging into the site, citing sign-in errors and password-reset loops. Starbucks responded to comments asking for more details and pointed users to the official game sites for troubleshooting.

Quick Tip: If you have trouble signing in, try resetting your password via the app or visit the official Starbucks for Life site for help, and ensure you’re a registered Rewards member before the promotion closes.

This year's Merrython blends instant-win excitement with sweepstakes odds for larger prizes — and plenty of nostalgia for the small, collectible Bearista cup that captured widespread attention.