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A drinking straw is a short tube used for transferring a liquid - usually a drink from one location to another (such as from a cup, to one's mouth). The earliest drinking straws were hollow stems of grass, literally made of straw.^{[citation needed]} A thin tube of plastic (such as polypropylene and polystyrene) or other material, straight or with an accordion-like living hinge, it is employed by being held with one end in the mouth and another end in the drink. Muscular action reduces air pressure in the mouth, whereupon atmospheric pressure forces the drink up the straw. The first straws were made by the Sumerians, and used for drinking beer (as to avoid the solid byproducts of fermentation). Argentines and their neighbors use a similar metallic device called bombilla that acts as both a straw and sieve for drinking mate tea. The modern drinking straw was patented in 1888 by Marvin C. Stone.^[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. Modern plastic straws are made with a larger bore, so only one is needed for comfortable drinking.

One particular advantage of using a straw when drinking is the reduction of tooth decay. Many soft drinks have acidic properties, and using a straw reduces the liquid contact with the teeth, reducing tooth decay and the risk of cavities.^[2][3]

Drinking straws are, however, a form of plastic consumption when made and become a landfill item when discarded. Made from polypropylene they are strong and can be transformed (re-used) rather than 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.^[4]

[edit] Types of drinking straws

• A basic drinking straw is straight for the full length.
• A bendable straw or "bendy straw" has a concertina-type hinge near the top for convenience. This variation was invented by Joseph Friedman in 1937.^[5]
• A "crazy" straw is hard 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 entertaining spectacle.
• A spoon straw features a cut-away shape at one end that functions as a miniature spoon. It is intended for slush drinks.
• Candy straws, such as licorice straws (or lico-straws), are made from some type of chewy candy.
• A miniature straw often comes attached to a drink box.
• A wide straw is used for sipping bubble tea. The larger diameter is necessary to accommodate the drink's characteristic tapioca balls. Also for stirring.
• "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.
• The Sipahh. A drinking straw that contains flavoured tapioca beads that dissolve as milk passes over them to add colour and flavour.
• A recent addition to the straw family is the cereal straw, such as the ones made by Kelloggs.
• Polypropylene is becoming favored over polystyrene for manufacturing plastic drinking straws as polystyrene is brittle and tends to crack easily. It 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.
• Special "color-changer" straws given with meals at Friendly's change color as cold liquid passes through them.

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

[edit] Notes

Reusable aluminum straws come in different colors[[2]. They are not suitable for hot beverages.

Reusable stainless steel straws assure the user of virtually no toxins[[3] while sipping beverages. They are dishwasher safe.

Reusable glass straws come in various styles and sizes, some are specially processed with different annealing methods, the most durable glass straws are made using methods[[4] that result in "vintage Pyrex" like quality. Fully annealed glass straws are suitable for hot and cold beverages and are dishwasher safe.

[edit] External links

Look up drinking straw in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Drinking straw

• History of beer and bread (and Sumerian straws)
• How plastic drinking straws are made