To just want plastic straws back!

[Malahide]

Lighthearted - mostly!

I’m so sick of paper straws turning to mush before a drink is even finished, they just aren’t fit for purpose. Add in the awful wooden cutlery that you now get (I want my salad to actually taste like salad, not wood!!) and the cardboard takeaway containers which begin to disintegrate as soon as they touch food and all of a sudden I’m reconsidering whether the planet is really worth saving…

I’m joking of course but surely I’m not the only one who feels this way? There have to be better alternatives out there than paper, wood & cardboard that just seem to ruin everything!

We have a secret stash of plastic straws.

When my dad died 6 yrs ago (he had cancer and needed plastic straws to drink), my mother sourced thousands of straws.

My siblings and I divided the boxes of straws between us after he died (not as mercenary as it sounds).

My boxes are in a cupboard in the kitchen and used sparingly (when kids have had tonsillitis etc...).

Once we went wild and did paint blowing art with straws. Reckless we are....

I'm in the US at the moment, and was shocked to see that they still use plastic straws everywhere. Have to admit, that they are much better than paper!

At home we have the reusable ones, which are fine

Or any drink carton. For starters the lack of a sharp point makes getting them to pierce the hole really difficult.

I remove the plastic straws from my kids toddler sports bottle type drinking cups and now keep them as washable straws

I found jumbo plastic straws on Amazon, I needed them when I was recovering from pneumonia & had a mouth full of sores so bad I couldn't open my mouth. I was worried about reinfection & wanted something disposable.

Theres not one drink out there that has to be drank using a straw. You can just remove the lid and drink directly from the cup. Or carry your own alternative type of straw around with you. I’m glad our government is taking steps to reduce our plastic use.

I hate paper soggy straws too.

I got one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kynup-4Pack-Metal-Straws/dp/B07ZBZ6CCC/ref=mpssa1115?crid=292K0MD740WOF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R2eFihuZbP17IJ13Kx0tCurwcXxjH0kolo75B5dU6DddPnNh8htQrwZzSiiodlRpoh1O9rohqSEIpHTtg8rdYhz0S1yxJsrZ595rg3fUob0H231KBFkkISuNAN12WlwuUgb2410CA79ZpdDQAJSx6u3BXAyuujPARtSmP7e4CMsukHOQT1ILT2PvDsAb77N5JOkyXRho12PjrbS0BQMg.U5n25hKLqTSZ7U1GfOqYmE0tXDDHDUHfdXc0v9yAvHs&dib_tag=se&keywords=drink+straw+holder&qid=1723148984&sprefix=drink+straw%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-15

Hate paper straws with a passion. Absolutely ruined ice coffee and bubble tea. At home I have glass and metal straws but have never been organised enough to have one with me when I want a drink out. Do people just carry a straw in their bag? I know I never will!

The attached bottle caps are also a new hell. They don’t screw on properly and leak everywhere.

I haven't used a straw since I was a small child, if I needed one I would use a metal one. Curious as to why an adult (disability aside) would need a straw?

Yup

Wooden ones are awful

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kynup-4Pack-Metal-Straws/dp/B07ZBZ6CCC/ref=mpssa1115?crid=292K0MD740WOF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R2eFihuZbP17IJ13Kx0tCurwcXxjH0kolo75B5dU6DddPnNh8htQrwZzSiiodlRpoh1O9rohqSEIpHTtg8rdYhz0S1yxJsrZ595rg3fUob0H231KBFkkISuNAN12WlwuUgb2410CA79ZpdDQAJSx6u3BXAyuujPARtSmP7e4CMsukHOQT1ILT2PvDsAb77N5JOkyXRho12PjrbS0BQMg.U5n25hKLqTSZ7U1GfOqYmE0tXDDHDUHfdXc0v9yAvHs&dib_tag=se&keywords=drink+straw+holder&qid=1723148984&sprefix=drink+straw%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-15

Yep, I hear you!
The annoying thing is I hear that many 'paper' straws aren't in fact paper and their coating renders them unrecyclable, whereas plastic straws are fully recyclable 🙄
I'm a real 'rule-follower' but I buy plastic straws and always keep a few in my bag!

Paper straws are shit! I have metal ones for use at home amd some ancient plastic ones I'm working through.

Some people have disabilities that mean that they can only drink through a straw.
Off the top of my head... knew a chap with Parkinsons who would spill a hot drink over himself if he had to drink without a straw.

The fact that they disintegrate into the food and drink worries me. Paper might be eco friendly but its not meant to be consumed which is what's happening when they fall apart into the drink. There must be chemicals, dyes, glues also which cant be healthy.

For many people and many reasons this is not the case. I am able bodied and can drink from a cup perfectly fine - lots of others aren’t so fortunate and need to use straws on a daily basis.

Yes and if you watch any US instagrammers, many use throw away plates etc. I saw one ripping open carrier bags as all will go in the bin. We have made a lot of positive changes in the U.K. but seems the rest of the world isn’t following our lead

These are the absolute bane of my existence.

Europe and China are.

But it's surprising how many people with illnesses or disabilities need a straw that's of substance. The removal of them really disadvantages them.

thank you, that does look good! I just know as soon as I wash it I’ll never remember to put it back in my bag 😔

The brightly coloured ones do worry me quite a lot. I am certain that some of the dyes/glues from less reputable suppliers aren’t exactly food grade

Best impulse buy ever was when DH bought metal reuseable straws. Far superior to all other options. But I see you have them. I think it's just a case of carrying reusable ones with you at all times.

I’m a rebel and bought a pack of 300 plastic bendy straws for use at home. I tried the reusable ones but they just get so gross and those little brushes stop working after a while and I just can’t be bothered.

when I was in Fuerteventura earlier this year the hotel had biscuit straws that were really hard but softened a bit as you drank and they were quite nice!!

So they can take one of the many re usable options that are available with them.