Potential Ban of Plastic Straws in California

Assemblymember Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) plans to introduce legislation that will prohibit sit-down restaurants from providing their customers with straws, unless requested. The bill would exempt fast-food outlets.

This is in reaction to reports by environmental groups, such as the Last Public Straw, who report that upto 500 million plastic straws are used every day in the United States.

This ban would follow-on the recent ban on plastic grocery bags being provided to customers.

According to the California Restaurant Association, they will reserve their position until the language is introduced. However they did indicate that the concept of allowing customers to request straws is preferable to an outright ban.

However, the measure is already receiving push-back from a number of individuals who oppose this measure and others as evidence of increasing government control into personal and business practices.