Let’s Address The Ice Scam If We’re Going To Address The Straw Problem

I am fine getting rid of plastic straws if we address the ice scam. I use straws, I prefer them, but the ice scam is at the heart of the issue.

You know how it is, restaurants and such in the US very frequently jam drinks full of ice so they don’t have to give you as much. You have to ask for no ice, which is too much bother for most people. The only reason I really need a straw? Being able to get liquid out without that ice dumping everywhere.

Get rid of the ice and I don’t need the straw. Probably won’t even want it.

Seriously, the drink should be cold anyway if it’s one that gets served that way. Drinks from a soda fountain are typically cold enough. Iced tea is usually sitting in a room temperature bin, but you can add enough ice to cool without overdoing it to skip on the drink itself. Make this the default, then let people ask if they want extra ice. It isn’t too much to ask restaurants to give up this scam in exchange for us giving up disposable straws. They’ll save money on that anyway, and drinks are usually extremely cheap for them anyway.

Meet us halfway.