On the other hand, straws

As a counterpoint to my cheering of the Buenos Aires Straw Ban:

I was declined a straw at a restaurant this morning. The waitress had one in her apron. As she poured the water I said “excuse me miss can I have a straw?” She said “we can’t just give them out” and walked away.

— moe (@EhlersDanlosgrl) June 13, 2019

TLDR: moe was forced make a huge fuss in a public place, and to out herself as disabled, in order to get a straw. (Read the thread for the details, and the comments by environmental Twits to appreciate the full horror of their lack of humanity)

Yes, Plastic Straws Are Evil, because they're a single-use plastic contaminant and hundreds of millions are just handed out (and thus thrown out) every day.

But maybe a blanket ban would ignore the small but vulnerable percentage of people for whom a plastic drinking straw is a necessity or even just an invaluable factor in making life suck less.

Making them available on request, on a no-questions-asked basis, might be a more nuanced approach. That way, society will hemorrhage less plastic, but those with good reason to want one can just ask.