Seven strains of viruses were isolated from 8.75% of the 80 lots of drinking glasses, ready for use, in 40 coffee shops and bars in the business district of São Paulo. Three strains were identified as adenovirus type 3, two as echo type 11, one as adenovirus type 4 and one as herpesvirus. Each lot consisted of 5 drinking glasses. The positive lots belonged to 7 different coffee shops and bars. These findings confirm the poor sanitary conditions already observed of the common use utensils in the eating and drinking places of the city of São Paulo. These conditions are the result of the total lack of adoption of sanitation measures regarding such material. The existing conditions are the consequence of the inefficient and even infeasible regulations of the present sanitary laws of the State, concerning the matter.