Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse, it has. Sadly, 7-Eleven has had to cancel its incredibly popular Free Slurpee Day this year over fears that the promotion would make social distancing impossible. It’s the first time in 20 years the store hasn’t held the annual event, and while it’s a major bummer, it’s totally understandable.
- Free Slurpee Day comes every July 11. The promo is held on 7/11 (yep!) every year in celebration of the convenience store’s birthday and frankly, it’s an excuse for most of us who don’t usually buy Slurpees as adults to partake in one of life’s great joys: a super-sweet drink that inevitably gives you brain freeze no matter how slowly you drink it.
- It’s just not safe for the event to take place this year. 7-Eleven announced the news this week, citing “uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic” as their reasoning for not offering free Slurpees for all. Who could blame them? Given the sheer number of people who would come to take advantage of the offer, there’s no way that social distancing rules could be respected.
- 7-Eleven is still celebrating their birthday this year. They’re just doing it in a different way — donating one million meals to Feeding America. “At 7-Eleven, our top priority is the safety of customers, Franchisees and employees,” said 7-Eleven Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Marissa Jarratt in a statement. “Gathering 9 million of our closest friends in stores on one day just didn’t feel right, but I am heartened that we now have the opportunity to help the communities and neighborhoods that have been the lifeline of our business since 1927.”
- You can still get a free Slurpee, though. While the event might not be happening on July 11, anyone who has downloaded the 7Rewards app will get a coupon for a free medium Slurpee in their account on July 1. Better yet, the coupon can be used anytime throughout the month of July, so you can cash in whenever you pop into your local store. Pretty sweet!
