A Surprising Secondhand Market
If you search eBay for “McSpoon,” you will find a thriving resale market for the small plastic coffee spoons McDonald’s introduced in the 1970s and 1980s. Some listings reach $1,500—not because they were rare at launch, but because they were discontinued and became infamous.
What Was the McSpoon?
The McSpoon was a small plastic coffee spoon/stirrer designed for mixing sugar and cream into coffee. Its compact size and shallow bowl made it convenient for customers—and, as it turned out, attractive for a very different reason.
The Controversy That Changed Everything
By the late 1970s, U.S. media began reporting that the spoon was being used as a quick measuring tool for powdered drugs—especially cocaine and PCP (phencyclidine).
Reports claimed:
The spoon could hold enough powder for a strong single dose.
It was easy to pocket and reuse later.
In street talk, one spoonful became associated with a specific amount—commonly described as about 100 milligrams of cocaine.
How “McSpoon” Became Drug Slang
The alternative use became so widely discussed that in some places a dose of cocaine was reportedly referred to as “a McSpoon.” The nickname stuck, turning a simple coffee accessory into a recognizable label in 1970s drug culture.
A Party Story That Reached McDonald’s
One widely circulated account described an October 1979 article about a private party in a New York City loft, where guests were allegedly greeted with:
A large bowl of cocaine
Multiple McDonald’s spoons placed around it
Guests taking a spoon, scooping, and continuing the party
Whether exaggerated or not, stories like this fueled public pressure and intensified the spoon’s notoriety.
