a carrier for beverage containers formed of a sheet material such as plastic or paperboard which includes a bottom panel attached on opposite lateral sides to side panels , a pair of opposed end panels connected at their lower peripheries to the bottom and side panels , and a central handle which is formed of two halves folded together in a first position for ease in carrying and the handle is pivotal to an open position along its top fold line , allowing the carrier to spread outwardly to form a central cavity capable of holding ice for the purpose of cooling the beverage containers . each end panel is also provided with folded panels that enable the outwardly opened carrier to be capable of providing a tray that holds ice and resultant water after melting of the ice . the folding panels are integrally connected to the peripheries of one of the side panels . the top panels are provided with a plurality of openings , for example , six or eight , each of which is adapted to receive a beverage container . the top panels , which are connected to the central handle along their inner lateral edges , are also integrally connected at opposite sides to the upper edges of the side panels . the interior of the carrier may be provided with waterproof protective inner coating or a lining , which may be a flexible plastic sheet material such as polyethylene or polypropylene or a wax - like substance . the method for forming the beverage container is disclosed .