Mr Snail and I have a favourite pub where we go to for dinner and sometimes for breakfast. A few months ago, however, we were browsing the cocktails menu (like you do) and discovered one that we’d both really like to try. There were two problems, however. First it was breakfast time, so it was a bit early in the day. Second, the particular cocktail in question has got lots of crushed ice in it and really needs to be drunk through a straw. Neither of us want to be responsible for adding to the mountain of unrecyclable plastic of which drinking straws are one component.
Our desire for cocktails isn’t constant and so it was only after new year that I remembered. A little bit of a search and I found a small company on etsy selling these lovely things, complete with carrying bag and cleaning brush:
They are now residing in my handbag, ready for use. We just need to a sunny day, so we can stroll down and enjoy our drinks… plastic-free and without the need to drive afterwards!
The Snail of Happiness 
Laurie Graves
/ January 11, 2018Great idea! I love cocktails, and I wish I could join you. 😉 Be sure to provide pictures when you have those cocktails.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2018If I remember to take my camera, I certainly will.
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tinaor
/ January 11, 2018Interesting.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2018I’m delighted to have an excuse to go out for cocktails very soon!
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Donnalee
/ January 11, 2018Those remind me of the sterling silver ones that someone gave us at a wedding decades ago, which might be worth carrying around in case of milkshakes or, much more rarely, cocktails…thanks for the reminder!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2018Wow – they sound very stylish!
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Donnalee
/ January 11, 2018They were intriguing in their way, straight straws with an etching on the outside of each that spiralled around, and close to the bottom of each a sort of…oh, like an umbrella frame, a sort of array of sticks/ribs/petals to perhaps keep fruit from getting sucked up or something. On second thought, the straw would be hazardous to carry without its little presentation box, and rather bulky to carry with
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018Clearly just for use at home!
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Donnalee
/ January 12, 2018Or to really show off in some silly and slightly dangerous way–you could carry it in a sheath like a sword perhaps and whip it out humourlessly and see what happens.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018Now that I would like to see!
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Donnalee
/ January 12, 2018You could embroider or needlepoint a lovely one, I’d bet–
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Helen
/ January 11, 2018What are the straws made of? I bought some bamboo straws as my daughter likes to use a straw. Unfortunately, she can’t get used to the taste they leave in your mouth.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2018These are stainless steel – I though they’d last well and be easy to sterilise if necessary.
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Helen
/ January 12, 2018They look beautiful as well. Where could I find such?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018I bought mine from here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/transaction/1384019323
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Helen
/ January 12, 2018Thanks!
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Wild Daffodil
/ January 14, 2018Great idea! This link doesn’t work though – I think we need a link with the name of the shop in it. With lots of granchildren to think about, I’d love to have some of these in my ever expanding handbag.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 14, 2018Oh dear, let’s try again: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GreenPlanetGoods
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nanacathy2
/ January 11, 2018What a good idea, Didn’t straws used to be made of paper, I wonder if they will make them again?
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Mags
/ January 11, 2018I bought paper straws a few weeks ago…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2018any idea what is used to make them waterproof?
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Mags
/ January 11, 2018To be honest, they don’t last very long – one, maybe two drinks. The paper was quite thick, so I’m not sure that they WERE waterproof.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018Well, I suppose at least they might be compostable.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2018I wonder what paper straws are coated with to make them waterproof.
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Mags
/ January 11, 2018I hope you get your cocktails soon!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2018Me too!
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Murtagh's Meadow
/ January 11, 2018Great idea, and yes you can still get paper straws too.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2018I hope mine are going to last a long, long time
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katechiconi
/ January 11, 2018I have to admire your dedication to this particular cocktail! You’ll have to let us know if they get very cold from icy drinks – it’d be dreadful to have a Dumb & Dumber moment with a straw frozen to your lips! I do like the elegant design and the slender pouch they come in, too.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018Apparently the fact that they gat cold does take a little getting used to, but one suggestion is that you keep them in the fridge, so that they actually cool the drink down if the weather is hot. I’m sure Mr Snail will supply photos if I become attached to my straw.
Oh, and the cocktail is called a stormy harbour… and I have become a little obsessed with having one!
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katechiconi
/ January 12, 2018Sounds reasonable, and do be sure to tell Mr Snail to post any incriminating photos! What’s in a Stormy Harbour that’s got you so excited?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018It’s a rum and ginger concoction… but they also do non-alcoholic apple mojitos which are apparently very nice.
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katechiconi
/ January 12, 2018Sounds rather like a Dark and Stormy, one of my favourites, and the national drink of Bermuda!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018yes, very similar
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katechiconi
/ January 12, 2018Cheers!
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Born To Organize
/ January 12, 2018You really are quite amazing. I admire your efforts on behalf of the environment.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018It’s really just a case of doing one thing at a time… and then after a few years you have a whole suite of things that are just ‘normal’, but having a real positive effect.
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Born To Organize
/ January 19, 2018You’ve given me a whole new perspective on straws. I even thought of you when we were sipping our drinks in Mexico. Today I bought a set of silicon straws that came with a little brush for cleaning. I don’t generally use them at home, but if you get a drink out, or if you’re driving, they’re helpful.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ January 12, 2018Bottoms up and gesondheid 🙂
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ January 12, 2018Oooh, what a good idea! My favourite Dublin burger place does a great chocolate milkshake, but it always arrives with a big ol’plastic straw stuck in it. These are just what I need! Hope you get to enjoy your Stormy Harbours soon!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018Of course, once you have such things, the challenge is to make sure you don’t get given the plastic anyway.
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ January 13, 2018True… Although once enough of us start asking, it might become normalised the way not automatically being given a plastic bag with your shopping did!
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quietwatercraft
/ January 12, 2018My mum bought me some paper straws a couple of years ago. I liked the fact that they weren’t plastic, but you had to drink quickly or they went all soggy in your mouth. Not ideal! These look like a much better alternative 🙂 are they sturdy or would carrying them round in my bag end up squashing them flat?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018They seem to be quite sturdy – they are stainless steel, so I think unless they get bashed quite hard, they should be robust enough for carrying about.
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KerryCan
/ January 12, 2018Such a cool solution to a problem! I think it’s very nice they come with that spiffy cleaning brush, too!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2018The brush means that I’d happily use them for smoothies, otherwise I think there could have been cleanliness issues!
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Dartmoor Yarns
/ January 14, 2018Great idea – thanks for the link.
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sparkscrochet
/ January 16, 2018Very pretty design on those straws too!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 16, 2018I know… I couldn’t resist them!
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thecocktailcollector
/ January 27, 2018That is a great idea! I’ve never seen it before!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 27, 2018highly recommended!
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So real me
/ January 27, 2018Great idea. It’s all soo new to me
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 27, 2018give them a go – an easy way to cut down on plastic use
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