As someone who has picked up literally thousands of plastic straws on beaches on every continent in the world and waterways across the United States, I absolutely and totally support a ban on all one-time use plastics.

As someone who has never gone out their way to pick up plastic straws anywhere, but is generally and vaguely aware of the damage they cause, I too would support a general ban on single use plastics.

I agree with you that we should limit both plastic straws and soot pollution.

I do not support the ban of plastic straws. Paper straws just aren't functional, and I need to use em. I bring my own plastic ones now.

You could bring your own steel straws instead of plastic. There are those who bring their own cutlery as well.

Due to growing demand, people are innovating in this space and are covering aspects such as reuse, sturdiness, ability to clean, storage, aesthetics.

I think the thing is if you remembered to bring your own straws you would just bring your own drink. That’s not really a bad thing either. I recently purchased a small backpack large enough for just my drink bottle at a sports store which makes it very convenient to bring water everywhere.

Better for my health, wallet and the environment but it is more effort than leaving care free and grabbing a drink later.

> I think the thing is if you remembered to bring your own straws you would just bring your own drink.

Unless getting the drink was the point (e.g. going out for a milkshake or Starbucks). Or you didn't want to haul a big ol' drink around.

I thought metal straws were a fine idea until I heard about the failure mode:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/11/world/europe/metal-straws...

Is there truly a risk here? The article opens with a discussion of a person predisposed to falls falling while holding a sufficiently sharp straw. The same could have happened with a knife or a pair of scissors or a fork. Hell, it could have happened with a sufficiently stiff plastic straw or bamboo straw—even a bubble tea straw.

The Starbucks recall the article mentions relates to a product defect unrelated to the above incident. The same recall could have been issued for _any_ utensil, thermos, or other durable item that Starbucks sells.

The article also cites dental risks, and almost parodies itself: “Just like we tell people not to chew on pens.” Well, yeah. I could also chew on my silverware and I'm certain my dentist would disapprove. The note about failing to clean the straws is probably the biggest risk to the average consumer, but the same risk exists with literally any reusable utensil or cup.

That article feels like it's trying hard to fish for a reason to be concerned about metal straws.

My new local coffee shop is package-free. No disposable cups, no straws, no lids. They have mugs to use if you’re outside drinking coffee, but they encourage you to bring or buy a reusable thermos.

Which requires a very slight bit of adaptation, because you have to remember to bring your own mug, but you get used to it. (Helps that they ran a “buy a thermos, get 4 free coffes” deal.) I could easily get used to it at other take-out places.

Out of curiosity, why do you need a straw when drinking?

Other than milk tea with pearls I can't really think of a drink that requires straws to drink.

Some restaurants serve soft drinks with ice that is divided into very small chunks instead of decent sized cubes (probably to get more surface area for faster cooling).

Many find it annoying to drink those without a straw.

Ah good point, hadn't thought of margaritas and slushies.

…why do you need to use straws?

There's a variety of medical conditions for which that's the case.

I don't think the EPA is the entity responsible for banning those items.

No, it is a little kid who went all over TV having discovered a turtle with a straw lodged in its nose.