The Straw Ban

Reposted from my Facebook post in July 2018.

Bundle of colorful plastic straws.

"I'll have a margarita... with a straw." - Laila, Margarita with a Straw (2014)

So, I love that people are trying to be green and save marine life. I do think it's devastating that aquatic animals are getting injured and ill from the toxicity that plastic has on their bodies, and I certainly don't want to ingest plastic every time I eat seafood. However, as much as I love Earth, animals, the sea, and Mother Nature as much as the next girl, this "Straw Ban" that America has decided is a "good solution" to the problems I mentioned is going to be a serious detriment to millions of people.

Let me explain. A lot of people with physical disabilities need to use plastic straws. And not just want to, need to. I can drink liquids without a straw, so this doesn't affect me. However, as a friend and acquaintance of several disabled people who need assistance and adaptation to drink, here's why this would be a problem. A lot of people who have physical disabilities cannot lift cups up to their mouth because they might not have the fine motor control, hand steadiness, arm strength, or hand strength to do so. Another thing is, they might drop the cup and that can be a real hazard if the cup is made of glass, which could be a potential hazard in a restaurant. Another thing is, it's very hard for people with cerebral palsy (and other physical disability) to find the speed, coordination, strength, and accuracy to accomplish more than one motor tasks at once. "But that's only one motor task!" you might say. Well, really, it's three. Yes, three. First, there is the action that you do that involves picking up the cup. This involves a complex set of skills that muscles do based on instructions from for example, your nervous system, and other parts of the body. This may seem simple for some, but for others, it can be very arduous. Next, you have to hold the cup while using your mouth and face to sip. Sipping is an easy task for most people, but sometime it's hard for people to sip while holding a cup. And then there is putting the cup back down, which can be hard to do for some people too.

As an add-on, bendy straws are better for making sure the straw is easily accessible.

As I said before, I'm all for saving the environment, but please, do it in other ways so disabled people can live as independently as possible.

I never thought I'd be ranting about straws on social media before, but hey, first time for everything.