I don’t think that it has been mentioned yet that many recycling programs don’t accept straws. They fall through the recycling equipment or something.
They don’t like shoe strings either. (At the dump/recycling center)
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I’ve been drinking from cups since I was weaned.
Pretty sure I could figure out how to drink from any sippy lid and know exactly how much ice I need for any drink. Straw or not. Without spilling.
It’s not rocket science.
My limited experience with fast food drinks is flimsy cups with flimsier ill-fitting lids that slip off when the cup is held tight.
Not using a straw in that circumstance, especially while also driving, which is not an uncommon time for people drinking take out soda, or even smoothies, is inviting disaster.
Most brain surgeons and engineers (don’t know any rocket scientists though) I know are smart enough to use a straw.
Sonic cups are nice. Sturdy. Keep your drink cool. Can be reused.
Only fast food drink I’ll do. It’s usually bottled water for me. Often bring my own.
Ah. The disposable plastic bottle for water is a HUGE improvement for plastic waste over the straw and paper cup! 
Yeah, it astonishes me that plastic straws are banned in some areas, but not the
50 billion plastic water bottles Americans discard every year.
Ain’t that the truth.
The more you learn about plastics the more crazy it seems that we’ve created this economy where millions of tonnes of the stuff gets made for single use and almost none of it can be economically recycled. So even if straws are the thin end of the wedge (and from what I gather, they are actually disproportionately a problem), that’s fine by me because we need to tackle the entire wedge.
And while some of the changes seem a bit of a faff at first, just look at plastic bags. I can’t believe that for most of my life, I, and most everyone around me, would get a fresh set of bags every time they went to the grocery store and then throw them away immediately. What unnecessary waste. And it was definitely more common to see bags blowing around in the street.
There has to be a toothpick brigade here.
(For my harmlessly changing the subject alittle, I apologize)
Also of note is that the way beverages are consumed is an integral part of the experience and can affect the way they taste. I cannot imagine drinking a hot beverage like coffee with a straw, but cannot imagine consuming a milkshake any other way. With soft drinks, it depends. One advantage of a straw with fast-food drinks is that you don’t get all that ice smashing you in the teeth. At home, I pay what turns out to be a considerable premium for Coke in small 300-ml plastic bottles (slightly smaller than a normal can) because it tastes great right out of the bottle, much better than from a can either with or without a straw.
One of the environmental problems with straws is that they’re hard to recycle. AIUI, they tend to jam in recycling machinery. Everyone has switched to paper now, which I hate, but I still have a stash of plastic straws. I usually dispose of them in the garbage, but I have to be careful or they can poke holes in the garbage bag. Much as I detest paper straws, I must admit that the plastic ones are an environmental nuisance.
I’m happy to do small things that genuinely help the environment. The truth is that I don’t much like paper straws. I’m happy to reuse plastic ones, and do so. The paper straws are often soggy after thirty minutes or so, then later turn useless and disgusting. Plenty of fast food places serve big plastic cups with big plastic lids, so I’m a little unsure exactly how much plastic is actually being saved. I also find plastic bags useful and reuse these too.
I enjoy drinking my coffee at home and out in the world with a straw. Bonus is the coffee doesn’t stain my teeth.
Not a fan of the paper straws either. I try to reuse all of the plastic/paper/assorted misc items as much as I can also.
Actually, I do that, too, depending on what they’ve been used for, since the big fast-food plastic straws are now so scarce and precious. If used for something like a soft drink that’s readily washable, I’ll rinse a plastic straw and put it aside. If it’s been used for a milkshake, I’ll throw it out.
I have to say, somehow Starbucks did an amazing job with their cold sippy lids. It’s easy to locate by feel without looking (the rim gently ramps up towards the sippy part), doesn’t have the “avalanche of cubes causing an unexpected ice age across your face” problem that some cheaper lids have, and is generally just super comfortable. I actually prefer it to straws now and wish this were an ISO standard or some such. Maybe it’s my particular mouth shape or something, but I find them to be some of the best drinkware anywhere, single-use or otherwise.
They said nothing of the sort.
Why are you being so confrontational in this thread?
She has sensitive teeth so she uses straws.
What is your problem?
If you read my first comment I explained that I had sensitive teeth.
I did not feel like typing it over again. That was my mistake.
I always have had sensitive teeth but when I had my entire teeth capped on the top the sensitivity increased significantly.
And - the teeth were capped for a medical reason. When I was very young I was frequently ill and prescribed Erythromycin.
This antibiotic stunted the growth of all of my teeth and turned them a sickly yellow. One of the teeth was hardly even functional and it was capped when I was in grade school.
I had veneers put on the other noticeable front teeth when I got older.
I was also hit by a car at age three. I was caught on the bumper and dragged down the street for a block which also caused mouth & facial issues (along with other life long disabilities).
There were some other medical reasons that I do not feel like elaborating right now because I really feel attacked by your comment. But I’ll let it go.
I see specialist dentists 4 times per year for cleaning and exams. A periodontist and an endodontist. These are far more expensive than a regular dentist.
An endodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on diagnosing and treating complex tooth problems, especially those that affect the tooth’s pulp.
The periodontist checks the gum health along with the teeth.
I wear a specially made mouth guard at night.
I spent $16,000 getting all this work done. My endodontist calls it an investment.
So yes I use straws all the time and I am not going to change that habit.
In fact I’m drink my coffee with a straw right now.
Out of a cup that says Witches Brew that I bought at Halloween.
I may be in error about the name of the specific antibiotic that caused the tooth yellowing/stunted growth. Maybe it was tetracycline?
My Covid brain fog is on overdrive this weekend.
Sounds to me like you’re on top of your dental care needs.
You don’t have to defend your right to use a straw. It’s your choice, afterall.
I understood your posts.
Rest your Covid brain. You’re ok.
Thank you Beck!
I just felt I needed to respond.
It felt a bit snarky/slappy but it’s all good now.