Sometimes you can't win, no matter what. [Environment vs disabled access in straws.]

Most of those drinks already come with a plastic lid and a straw right? So now Starbucks is just eliminating the straw and slightly altering the lid. If you’re worrying who is going to recycle the lids and how, well, why haven’t you been worried about it before?

I think that having some straws available upon request is a good solution. But I also think problems will arise the same way there are problems with “service animals” now too. It’s a legit solution for legitimately disabled people and able-bodied people will take advantage of the rules and loopholes, creating a problem for those who have an actual need. People will know there’s straws available and request them even if they don’t have a legitimate need. Then straw use will go back up and bans will be reconsidered and it won’t be the fault of “entitled disabled people.”

I seriously don’t understand the issue. Plastic straws have been ubiquitous since the 1980s. People used straws before that. IIRC, paper straws with a bit of wax on them were common before that. I have zero problem going back to that. If I find that wax coated paper straws are an issue I would buy a reusable straw.

Maybe it is time to invest in Crazy Straws…