Thirsty? It's Free Slurpee Day at local 7-Eleven stores

The international convenience store chain, which has multiple locations in Washtenaw County, is offering a free 7.11 ounce Slurpee drink Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., according to the company’s website.

The reason: To promote the launch of 7-Eleven’s Slurpee Lite — a sugar-free Slurpee flavored by Fanta and sweetened with Splenda.

7-Eleven will roll out additional Slurpee flavors each month during the summer. The line-up:

• May: Sugar-Free Mango
• June: Watermelon Lime
• July: Sugar-Free Strawberry Banana; Lemon Creme
• August: Sugar-Free Cherry Limeade; Orange Xplosion

And don’t fret: 7-Eleven will still host its traditional Free Slurpee Day to celebrate the company’s birthday on July 11.

The retail chain, which has more than 44,000 outlets in 16 countries, has been expanding throughout all of Michigan in recent years and opened two locations in the downtown Ann Arbor area in 2011.

The company also signed a lease in April to open a store on the first-floor of the 14-story high-rise at 1300 S. University Ave. near the University of Michigan campus.