[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

I prefer to drink through a straw at public restaurants for sanitary reasons. Too many food preparers handle drinks by the rim of the glass.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by karostay

Next someone will want hand sanitizer's at each table.
For you germ a phobics..Just imagine how many germs have been transmitted by the simple act of pulling you chair up
let alone a server handling your glass

Last they shouldn't have tooth picks at the door..Imagine how many trees will be save.
Or they should pass a law..Tooth Picks can only be made from storm damaged trees

[Chi33]

Originally Posted by Byte1

and no Lemon in the water. Do you think they wear gloves to cut the lemons?

[GypsyBuddy]

The problem is the plastic, most of which comes from China. Straws used to be made from a paper product and some sort of recyclable material would be better for us all. I can't even remember when straws changed to all plastic. I am stopping the use of restaurant straws until they are environmentally friendly.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Does anyone remember paper straws? They were biodegradable. It seems one of our giant live oaks could make a lot of paper straws and there would be no need for social action. If I carried a glass straw in the bottom of my purse, I am pretty sure I would die of an unspeakable illness. I have no idea what's been down in there. Or is down in there at the moment.

[ColdNoMore]

McDonald's To Replace Plastic Straws With Paper In An Effort To Reduce Waste

McDonald's announced it will replace plastic straws with paper ones at some of its U.K. locations in May in an effort to help protect the environment. In addition, customers will not automatically be given straws. Instead, straws will be held behind the counter, and will have to be specifically requested in an extra effort to reduce waste.

"The reduction and use of plastics is a hugely important issue – for our business, for the sector, and for society," Paul Pomroy, chief executive of McDonald's U.K., said in a statement. "We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and we can, and want to, be part of the solution."

Petition * Starbucks: Replace Plastic Straws with Biodegradable Paper Straws * Change.org

[graciegirl]

Do the same folks who eschew straws also use paper to pick up dog poop? Do they insist on reusable syringes at the doctor's office. Drink only out of glass bottles?

I think it is like the little old lady who peed in the sea. Every little bit helps.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by EPutnam1863

I have seen servers lick their fingers when picking up menus. Also servers exit bathrooms without washing their hands. My son told me that while working in a kitchen when he was in high school, servers and cooks spat into the food when customers irritated them.

If less people ate at restaurants then there would be less waste. If they would stay home, then there would be less chance of them spreading disease.

The only drink where I do NOT use a straw is a beer.

[bjdopp]

I prefer to use straws because who know what the server was handling prior to giving me my drink.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by lindaelane

I always as for at least "no straw for the water" if I forget to bring my own straw. For heaven sake, people can switch their straw back and forth if they have water and a drink they bought, if they just feel it is somehow icky to drink from the rim. But I agree, bring a straw or no straw are the best options.

The Publix at Mulberry often forces me to use plastic. I must remember to say "no plastic" or they will wrap multiple items, such as chicken, in a plastic bag before putting it in my cloth bag. Most offensive are what are usually older ******* who "know best'. Even when I ask for "no plastic", and make sure they heard, they ignore me and wrap items in plastic before putting them in my cloth bags. So I have to either watch them as they work, or ask them to allow me to bag my own. It seems odd to me - their generation grew up on "the customer is always right". If I have not had a leak in 60 years of shopping and think it unlikely that I will both have a leak and that fluids will penetrate past the shield at the bottom of plastic bags, that is my right.

The ******* also have an annoying way of carefully turning down the edges of my cloth bags before putting anything in them. This both takes up much of my time, and that of those in line, plus diminishes the capacity of the bag. Its totally unnecessary, the bag can easily be filled without turning down the edges. They frown and protest if I ask them not to turn down the edges of the cloth bags.

You know - they happily accommodate customers who insist on one, two or three items in each bag. Why can't they happily accommodate customers who do not want any plastic bags? Makes no sense.

Go somewhere else. It's impossible to make EVERYONE happy. You do know that these meat containers leak? You should be thanking the clerk for putting the meat (especially chicken) in plastic bags before putting it in your cloth bag.

I think it is great to have the convenience of these stores so easily accessible. I hope that picky customers do not drive them away. They already have to pay more to do business here than outside of the Villages.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Do the same folks who eschew straws also use paper to pick up dog poop? Do they insist on reusable syringes at the doctor's office. Drink only out of glass bottles?

I think it is like the little old lady who peed in the sea. Every little bit helps.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Do the same folks who eschew straws also use paper to pick up dog poop? Do they insist on reusable syringes at the doctor's office. Drink only out of glass bottles?

I think it is like the little old lady who peed in the sea. Every little bit helps.

Just remember, there is no P in Sumter.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by GypsyBuddy

The problem is the plastic, most of which comes from China. Straws used to be made from a paper product and some sort of recyclable material would be better for us all. I can't even remember when straws changed to all plastic. I am stopping the use of restaurant straws until they are environmentally friendly.

[acstover]

Virtually all the plastic in that floating island in the Pacific is from Asia.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Do the same folks who eschew straws also use paper to pick up dog poop? Do they insist on reusable syringes at the doctor's office. Drink only out of glass bottles?

I think it is like the little old lady who peed in the sea. Every little bit helps.

I use biodegradable poop bags. They cost an arm and a leg. I try to keep Crosby constipated. (KIDDING, but not about the cost of the bags.)



I use glass bottles or metal reusable water bottles. I switched over to a selzer machine because I was drinking a liter bottle of selzer a day.



Isn't there some health-related issue with reusable syringes? I don't think the public can control that particular usage.


And you're right, every little bit helps. I don't buy the "only do the most important" thing somebody mentioned above.


As far as "the straw already exists" comment, for each person that refuses to use an existing straw, that's one less straw to be thrown out. Eventually they'll stop being made.