Yeah I think it's a US thing. It's surprising how vehement people are in the comments when you suggest they could drink without a straw. I was thinking back, I

Yeah I think it's a US thing. It's surprising how vehement people are in the comments when you suggest they could drink without a straw. I was thinking back, I just went on a 2 week vacation in NZ and was eating out a lot. I ordered soda a couple of times and was never given a straw. The kids did get straws a few times with juice drinks. It's a cultural/learned thing but people don't realize that so they get cross about it, one way or the other.