Today, on January 3rd we celebrate the Paper drinking straw day. Can you imagine drinking your favorite beverage or soft drink without a straw? Without spilling, without savoring it enough before you gulp it…no one has. The little invention of a drinking straw has changed our lives quite with ease. The basic looking little straw is a real useful tool that adds convenience. Cocktails, milkshakes and frappe, you just need a straw.
On January 3rd 1888, Marvin. C. Stone received the patent for paper drinking straw from the United States Patent office. This straw was made of Manila paper. Since, then the day is celebrated to commemorate the event.
A brief history of drinking straws
However, the Sumerians of Mesopotamia were the first to use straws for drinking beer. This was to avoid the solid byproducts of fermentation from sinking at the bottom. Or the beer that was stored in vats was heavy enough, so they used long straws to have the drink. The oldest drinking straw to have ever existed was discovered in a Sumerian tomb that dates back to 3000 B.C.
In Argentina, they used a bombilla which was a metallic device that served as a straw and a sieve. In the 1800s, the rye grass straw came into trend, which turned the beverage grassy. The world’s first bendable straw came in 1937.
Today, there are a variety of straws available in the market. Stainless steel, glass, bamboo, silicon, white birch and paper straws which are non- toxic and environment friendly.
The Paper Drinking straw
The idea of paper drinking straw came to Marvin. C. Stone when he was having a mint julep, for which he circled a paper around a pencil as in a tube. Sliding the pencil out, he glued the paper. Later, to ensure that the glue doesn’t dissolves in the drink, Stone refined it. He built a machine that could coat the paper from the outside with wax holding it together. The paper used to create the straw was imported from Manila, Philippines.
The Plastic drinking straw
In the 1960s, paper was replaced by plastic. The drinking straw is made of polypropylene. Being light, durable and cheap, it is not surprising that the plastic straws are all over, existing even today on land and in oceans. An oil-based single use product that isn’t renewable and littered all over the planet. In August 2015, a video surfaced showing a straw stuck in a turtle’s nostril. It caused an awareness about the impact of plastic on the marine life. Two years later, began the campaign of a ‘Strawless ocean’ that prompted people to pledge for #Stopsucking. Food giants McDonald’s and Starbucks have stopped using single use plastics. Countries like Canada, Mexico City and France have banned the same.
By 2020, England banned all single use plastic straws.
Celebrations
The celebrations can include an entire day spent by drinking beverages with a straw, be it cold coffee, a mojito or any other. Enjoy making some fun drinks like a frappe or try out a mint julep. Sipping tasty new drinks and savoring them with a straw is the best way to celebrate the Paper Drinking Straw day.
Fun fact- Using a drinking straw other than drinking
Yes, you can use the drinking straw in activities other than drinking. A straw can help you create beautiful pieces of art and craft, in flower arrangements, and even as a bubble wand, there is still more to it.
You must never try drinking hot tea or coffee with a straw as it can scald your mouth. When any liquid is sipped by a straw, it heats by a few degrees, therefore it is recommended not to consume a hot liquid using the straw.
Apart from the celebrations and enjoyment, the day calls for a worldwide awareness for not using plastic straws. They are a major contributor to the plastic marine waste. Thus, imposing bans and saying NO to plastic straws is necessary and healthy. It is the time to ditch them forever! And go for the reusable straws made of silicon and metal. That would be the real celebration for the day.
