Clearly we did have a problem.

"We" does the heavy lifting.

Profiteers had no problem. Vapers had no problem. The government had a problem.

This shows democracy actually working IMO. You elect people you trust and then they do the right thing despite individual people not doing that collectively.

What are straws for anyway?

There are plenty of people with motor issues where a straw really does mean having the freedom to drink on your own. Also, in the US, ice is more popular to add to your drink and a straw means not getting blasted with a bunch of ice.

I non-disposable ones to keep cold and acidic drinks from washing over my sensitive teeth.

Kids love em. Although I am impartial to a straw into a cold milkshake or mango smoothie on a hot day.

in the US most people drink stuff with a ton of ice. it stops the ice from hitting your mouth/teeth when you drink. it's also easier to drink in a moving vehicle with a straw and not risk stuff splashing all over you

... what? They do have a problem with single-use electronics/batteries, so much so that they're banning them.