Eating At Restaurants In California Just Completely Changed — For The Better

On Thursday, September 20th, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed a bill that will change how Californians eat at restaurants. The bill bans restaurants from automatically giving out plastic straws with beverages. Instead, the customer will have to request a straw. This is the first statewide “ban” on plastic straws in restaurants.

“Plastic has helped advance innovation in our society, but our infatuation with single-use convenience has led to disastrous consequences,” Brown stated in a message via the Los Angeles Times.

Brown passed the bill in an effort to slow the damage being done by single-use plastics to marine life. He cited a discovery of a beached pilot whale in Thailand that died with 80 plastic bags in its digestive system. The L.A. Times states that experts claim 80% of all marine debris is plastic.

“Nor are humans immune as microplastics were recently found in tap water around the world,” Brown continued. “Plastics, in all forms — straws, bottles, packaging, bags, etc. — are choking our planet.”

The new California law will take effect starting January 1st, 2019. Although the state will be able to issue fines to full-service restaurants who do not comply with the bill, fast-food restaurants, cafés, delis, and take-out restaurants are currently exempt, Eater SF reports.

california just became the first state to ban restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless requested!! so there’s a reason to smile today 🙂

— bridge (@bridgetrhee) September 21, 2018

“It is a very small step to make a customer who wants a plastic straw ask for it,” Brown noted. “And it might make them pause and think again about an alternative. But one thing is clear, we must find ways to reduce and eventually eliminate single-use plastic products.”

Although California is the first state to enact a statewide ban, Seattle outlawed plastic straws and other single-use plastic utensils. And San Francisco also passed a plastic straw ban due to take effect in 2019. Private companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s are looking into plastic straw alternatives in order to follow suit.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signs law to ban restaurants from automatically handing out plastic straws. https://t.co/moa8xkrIVe pic.twitter.com/z2TwMv6dbR

— ABC News (@ABC) September 22, 2018

Of course, not everyone is pleased with the new bill. Most Californian Republican lawmakers oppose the law and fear this is the first step to burdening small businesses with a full-blown ban on plastic.

Others predict the straw restriction interferes with the enjoyment of going out to eat. Having to think about one’s impact on the environment and receiving a “lecture on straws and ocean health,” as Assemblyman Devon Mathis said, will put a damper on an evening out. (We argue that you can simultaneously enjoy your time eating out and be aware of your impact on the environment.)

Another possible issue: those who identify as differently-abled and need to use straws may be wrongly challenged when they ask for the single-use plastic item.

Only on Facebook would I see people being angry over California becoming the first state to ban giving out plastic straws at restaurants.. pic.twitter.com/u6EEB6r9d8

— 𝖆𝖘𝖍 ⭒ (@caraxmiia) September 21, 2018

Generally, more and more people seem to be on board with the ban. It’s a small step for the environmental health of California, but a huge example for the rest of the country to follow.