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They had a smooth coating, that given the time period, would have been wax and not plastic. The smooth coating was not only a short-term water-proofing, but gave the straws a comfortable mouth-feel. They did not taste of anything. Then they disappeared from the market. If no one has reported unearthing 70 year old paper straws from the landfills, you can be pretty sure it’s because they decayed.

Decades later I saw a program about the damage plastic straws do to ocean wildlife, and it was graphic and sickening (iterations of getting stuck in nostrils and blowholes and causing agonizing death) .

I seriously wanted paper straws back, but when I finally found a box they were quite expensive, and turned out to have a taste and mouth-feel that was, well, it was unacceptable to this customer. It was like the modern manufacturer went all literal on the idea of paper without considering what else was needed. They actually did come apart during normal and expected use, and the paper-texture was gritty on the tongue.

I re-use plastic straws as long as I can clean them, but only recently did I find a tiny cleaning brush made for the purpose. So yes.

Good news is that some restaurants have recently found a better grade of paper straws. It started with our local organic restaurant and has been spreading bit by bit. The Chinese restaurant has them now.

Only two further observations: one is that if I can’t use straws at all I will have a life of tepid beverages, because my teeth hurt. Second is that trump is an idiot who likes to waste our time and our money while distracting us.