Straws needed for some groups
I AM writing to you regarding recent calls by both Toowoomba Regional Council and large corporate organisations to ban plastic drinking straws.
By banning plastic straws these groups are essentially denying people with a disability basic human rights.
For people with a disability, the elderly and people recovering from a mouth injury/operation, plastic straws are not a “luxury” but are in fact a life sustaining necessity.
Without a straw a large proportion of physically disabled people cannot consume any fluids and for some people with a disability a straw is their only means of consuming any nutritional sustenance.
At present there are no viable alternatives to plastic straws. Paper straws are unsuitable for hot drinks in excess of 40C.
They also pose a significant chocking risk as they fall apart easily (keeping in mind that people with physical disabilities often have difficulties coughing and the ingestion of a broken
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FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY, THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM A MOUTH INJURY/OPERATION, PLASTIC STRAWS ARE NOT A “LUXURY” BUT ARE IN FACT A LIFE SUSTAINING NECESSITY.
off piece of cardboard could easily lead to pneumonia) and they are also difficult to transport in small quantities due to the fact that they “squish” easily.
Metal straws pose a significant safety risk to people with excess, uncontrollable movement which could easily lead to impalement injuries, and the hygiene of other “reusable” straws cannot be guaranteed due to the size and intricate nature of straws making them difficult to clean.
With regards to the decision by some businesses to stop selling single use plastic straws; basic economic theory tells us that a decrease in supply of a given commodity results in an increase in price.
Australia ranks last of all the OECD countries for people with a disability living at or below the poverty line, therefore an increase in price for such a necessary commodity would have a significant detrimental impact on the finances of a community who could least afford it.
I acknowledge the need to “be green” but endangering the lives of humans in order to be green is surely going too far!
If individual Councils and businesses continue to ban straws the social gap of acceptance between the disabled and able-bodied people will only increase as we continue to become ostracised for actions beyond our control (i.e. how we stay hydrated).
People with a disability should have the right to attend events free from judgment, the only way this can happen is if we are able to use plastic straws in a harmonious environment. LAURA SCURR, Toowoomba