System and method for absorbing liquids on outside of bottle necks

A drip stopping system for absorbing liquid which runs downwardly on the exterior surface of a bottle following the pouring of such liquid from the bottle, the bottle having a base portion, a neck portion integrally merged at one end with the base portion, and defining at the other end an opening through which such liquid may be placed within and poured from, said system comprising, in combination:

• a) a flexible cord having first and second ends and a liquid-absorbing outer surface;
• b) at least one retaining member defining a pair of laterally adjacent passageways with parallel axes;
• c) said cord passing through, in frictional contact with, each of said passageways with both of said first and second ends on one side and a closed loop of said cord on the other side of said retaining member;
• and
• d) said closed loop passing around and substantially surrounding said neck portion of said bottle in contacting relation with said exterior surface thereof, whereby any liquid moving down said exterior surface, following pouring of liquid from said bottle and returning said bottle to an upright position, is absorbed by said cord, wherein the portions of said cord on the opposite side of said retaining member from said closed loop are passed around said neck portion, crossed over one another, and passed back to the same side of the bottle as said retaining member.