Straws

Straws and stirrers for bar service, in paper and reusable materials since single-use plastic straws were banned from general supply in England.

  • Plastic straws cannot be offered by default in England since October 2020
  • You may keep plastic straws for customers who need one and ask
  • Test paper straws in a long drink before ordering a case

Showing 1–24 of 62 results

Showing 1–24 of 62 results

The law changed in October 2020: single-use plastic straws and stirrers cannot be supplied in England as a matter of course. Hospitality can still hold plastic straws to give to a customer who needs one for medical or accessibility reasons and asks, but they cannot be displayed or offered by default. Paper, and reusable straws that go through the wash, are what sits on the bar.

How to choose

What to know

Paper straws vary enormously. A thin one collapses in a long drink well before the drink is finished, which is the complaint every customer has about them; a well-made one lasts. It is worth buying a sample before committing to a case.

What to know

Length is worth matching to the glass. A straw that disappears into a tall glass is no use, and one standing far out of a short one looks careless.

Common questions

Are plastic straws banned in the UK?

In England, single-use plastic straws and stirrers cannot be supplied as standard from October 2020. Hospitality venues may keep a supply to provide to customers who need one for medical or accessibility reasons on request, but they cannot be displayed or handed out by default.

Why do paper straws go soggy?

Thin ones do. The wall thickness and the quality of the winding make a large difference to how long a straw lasts in a drink, so it is worth trying a sample in your longest drink before buying a case.

Have a look at

Thimble measuresWine & champagne coolers