Drinking straw

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Eight drinking straws.
A pink bendy straw in a drink

A drinking straw or drinking tube is a small pipe that allows its user to more conveniently consume a beverage. A thin tube of paper, plastic (such as polypropylene and polystyrene), or other material is used by placing one end in the mouth and the other in the beverage. A combination of muscular action of the tongue and cheeks reduces air pressure in the mouth and above the liquid in the straw, whereupon atmospheric pressure forces the beverage through the straw. Drinking straws can be straight or have an angle-adjustable bellows segment.

Plastic straws account for a significant amount of unrecycled plastic waste, and contribute to ocean deterioration. As a result, numerous campaigns in the 2010s have led to companies considering a switch to paper straws.

History

The first known straws were made by the Sumerians, and were used for drinking beer,[1] probably to avoid the solid byproducts of fermentation that sink to the bottom.[citation needed] The oldest drinking straw in existence, found in a Sumerian tomb dated 3,000 B.C.E., was a gold tube inlaid with the precious blue stone lapis lazuli.[1] Argentines and their neighbors have, for several hundred years, used (for drinking mate tea) a similar metallic device called a bombilla, that acts as both a straw and a sieve.[1]

In the 1800s, the rye grass straw came into fashion because it was cheap and soft, but it had an unfortunate tendency to turn to mush in liquid.[1] To address these shortcomings, Marvin C. Stone patented the modern drinking straw, made of paper, in 1888.[2] He came upon the idea while drinking a mint julep on a hot day in Washington, D.C.; the taste of the rye was mixing with the drink and giving it a grassy taste, which he found unsatisfactory.[1] He wound paper around a pencil to make a thin tube, slid out the pencil from one end, and applied glue between the strips.[1] He later refined it by building a machine that would coat the outside of the paper with wax to hold it together, so the glue wouldn't dissolve in bourbon.[1]

Early paper straws had a narrow bore similar to that of the grass stems then in common use. It was common to use two of them, to reduce the effort needed to take each sip. (The cocktail straw, which is sometimes used in pairs, may be derived from such early straws.) Modern plastic straws are made with a larger bore, and only one is needed for ease of drinking.[citation needed]

Types

File:Straw-O.jpg
Drinking straw widths. Size in mm.
  • A basic drinking straw is straight for its full length.
  • A bendable straw or "bendy straw" (known in the industry as an "articulated straw") has a concertina-type hinge near the top for convenience. This variation was invented by Joseph Friedman in 1937.[1][3]
  • Candy straws, such as licorice straws (or lico-straws), are made from some type of chewy candy.
  • An addition to the straw family is the cereal straw, such as the ones made by Kellogg's.
  • Special "color-changer" straws change color when cold (or hot) liquid passes through them. At some restaurants, frozen beverages like slush or frappes are served with color changing straws. Many of these are larger in diameter than typical straws to aid in drinking the thicker beverages.
  • A "crazy (or "krazy") straw" is hard, transparent or translucent plastic and has a number of twists and turns at the top. When liquid is sucked through the straw, it quickly flows through the winding path, creating a mildly amusing spectacle, popular with children.[4] The crazy straw may have some therapeutic benefit for sufferers of autism.[5]
  • Extendo-straws come in small plastic wrappings like miniature straws, but can extend to reach the bottom of the carton.
  • Flavor straws are a form of drinking straw with a flavoring included, designed to make drinking milk more pleasant for children. They were first marketed in the United States in 1956 as Flav-R-Straws.[6] In recent years, newer variations of the original idea have been resurrected in forms such as Sipahhs, and Magic Milk Straws that contain hundreds of flavored pellets encased within a stiff plastic straw.
  • A miniature straw is often attached to a drink box.
Cover of Vogue magazine depicting Kate Moss drinking through a straw
  • "Sanitary" straws are individually wrapped to avoid contamination. Straws were originally marketed as a means for people to reduce the risk of contracting an illness from improperly washed containers, glasses, or cups.
  • A spoon straw features a cut-away shape at one end that functions as a miniature spoon. It is intended for slush drinks and milkshakes. Their original purpose was to avoid ice clogging up the submerged end of the straw.[7][circular reference]
  • A wide straw is used for sipping bubble tea. The larger diameter is necessary to accommodate the drink's characteristic tapioca pearls, and can also be used for stirring. The tip of these straws are sometimes cut at an angle creating a point. This allows the straw to puncture the plastic cover of the cup. Wider than normal straws are said to give a better taste. McDonald's says they use wider straws "so all that Coke taste can hit all your taste buds".[8]

Nicholson Baker's novel, The Mezzanine (1988), includes a detailed discussion of various types of drinking straws experienced by the narrator and their relative merits.

Materials

  • Polypropylene is becoming favored over polystyrene for manufacturing plastic drinking straws as polystyrene is brittle and tends to crack easily. Polystyrene is also denser than water, causing straws to sink when placed into beverages. Polypropylene straws, by contrast, are much more durable and do not sink.
  • Silicone is a newer material used in drinking straws. Silicone straws are marketed for their freezability, invulnerability to cracking or peeling, and insulation for hot and cold drinks.
  • Metal straws, popular among campers, are made from stainless steel, aluminum, and even titanium.
  • Paper has been used and is used more frequently, as unrecycled plastic waste from straws has been seen to be a problem.[9]

Environmental impact

Plastic drinking straw production contributes to petroleum consumption, and the used straws become part of global plastic pollution when discarded, most after a single use. One anti-straw advocacy group has estimated that about 500 million straws are used daily in the United States alone – an average 1.6 straws per capita per day.[10][11][12]

Straws are typically made from polypropylene, mixed with colorants and plasticizers, and do not biodegrade in the environment.[12] Since the material is strong it can however be reused or recycled into other products. Waste straws in Uganda are collected from beer and soft drink depots, cleaned, and woven into mats for picnics and prayers or joined to form bags.[13]

Environmentally more friendly alternatives to plastic straws, some even reusable, exist, although not always readily available:[12]

  • Paper straws
  • Glass straws
  • Metal straws
  • Bamboo straws
  • Straw straws
  • Pasta straws

Environmental groups have encouraged consumers to object to "forced" inclusion of plastic straws with food service.[14][15] Criticisms are that plastic straw bans are insufficient to address the issue of plastic waste, as mostly symbolic.[16][17] Other criticisms include reference to need for straws by disabled people and consumer choice; however, these needs are easily addressed by providing straws on request.

Plastic straw bans

United Kingdom and Ireland

On April 19, 2018, ahead of Earth Day, a proposal to phase out single-use plastics was announced during the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government. This will include plastic drinking straws, which cannot be recycled and contribute to ocean deterioration, damaging ecosystems and wildlife. It is estimated that as of 2018, about 23 million straws are used and discarded daily in the UK.[18]

A few months before, Queen Elizabeth II banned the plastic straws and other one-use plastic items from her palaces.[19]

In 2018, after a two month trial of paper straws at a number of outlets in the UK,[20] McDonald's announced they would be switching to paper straws for all locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[21][22][23]

Canada

After the British proposition, fellow Commonwealth nation Canada was considering banning the straws too. An unofficial online survey showed that over 70% of voters agreed with a plastic straw ban.[24]

Starting in 2019, a ban of plastic straws will go into effect in the City of Vancouver, due to a vote in May 2018 that included banning other single-use items.[25] The following month, Canada's second-largest fast food chain, A&W announced they would have plastic straws fully phased out by January 2019 in all of their locations.[26]

United States

Drinking straw bans have been proposed in California and New York City since May 2018.[27][28] McDonald's announced it would begIn a trial run of switching from plastic to paper straws in June following its announced switch in Britain and Ireland.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Amazing History and the Strange Invention of the Bendy Straw" Archived April 28, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, November 22, 2011.
  2. ^ Artificial straw {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |country-code= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |inventor1-first= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |inventor1-last= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |issue-date= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |patent-number= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Friedman and the Flexible Straw Archived April 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Catherine Hollander (October 2014). "A Brief History of the Straw". Bon Appetit Magazine. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Judith Bluestone (2005). The Fabric of Autism: Weaving the Threads into a Cogent Theory. Sapphire Enterprises. ISBN 9780972023528. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  6. ^ Milk plant monthly, Volume 45, p. 68 (1956), quote: "New Flavored Straws For Use in Milk Drinks [...] A new type of straw with built-in flavor for use with milk drinks has been introduced by Flav-R Straws, Inc."
  7. ^ "Drinking Straw Explained" Archived November 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Kleynerman, Stella. "The real reason McDonald's Coke tastes so good". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Post reply. "McDonald's to phase out plastic drinking straws in UK restaurants". Western Telegraph. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "Straw Wars: The Fight to Rid the Oceans of Discarded Plastic". National Geographic News. April 12, 2017. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Bailey, Kate. "FAQs and Links – Milo's Be Straw Free Campaign". Eco-Cycle. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b c "UNDERSTANDING PLASTIC POLLUTION". Strawless Ocean. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  13. ^ "Strong, durable and re-usable bags made from waste drinking straws in Uganda". Strawbags. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  14. ^ "No straw please", plasticpollutioncoalition.org
  15. ^ McDonald’s pushed to ban plastic straws in the United States S.J. Mercury News (McClatchy, April 30, 2018)
  16. ^ Banning straws not enough to solve plastic pollution, May warned, Financial Times (April 20, 2018)
  17. ^ Don't bus disposables
  18. ^ Bruner, Raisa (April 19, 2018). "The U.K. Might Want to Ban All Plastic Straws and Drink Stirrers So Savor Those Sips Today". Time magazine. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  19. ^ Ferro, Shaunacy (February 21, 2018). "Sip on This: The Queen Has Banned Plastic Straws at Buckingham Palace". Mental Floss. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  20. ^ Vaughan, Adam (June 15, 2018). "McDonald's to switch to paper straws in UK after customer campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  21. ^ "McDonald's to replace plastic straws with paper ones in UK and Ireland branches". Sky News. June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  22. ^ McMahon, Aine (June 15, 2018). "McDonald's to move from plastic to paper straws". The Irish Times. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  23. ^ "McDonald's to ditch plastic straws". BBC News. June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  24. ^ DeLaire, Megan (April 20, 2018). "VOTE: What do you think of a possible ban on plastic straws in Canada?". Yahoo News. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  25. ^ Stewart, Nadia (May 16, 2018). "City of Vancouver votes to ban single-use plastic straws and styrofoam cups". Global News. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  26. ^ "Major fast-food chain to eliminate plastic straws by year's end". CFFR. June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  27. ^ Levine, Alexandra S. (May 23, 2018). "New York Today: The Scourge of Plastic Straws". The New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  28. ^ SARFATY, Cheryl (June 11, 2018). "When it's the law to skip the straw". The North Bay Business Journal. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  29. ^ Eitel, Barry (June 16, 2018). "McDonald's to test paper straws in US". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved June 16, 2018.

External links

Look up drinking straw in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Drinking straws.
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