Because they really, really care about the middle and lower classes, which make up 99.9% of those who work as servers
https://twitter.com/PoliticalShort/status/956612420201414656
From the link
Ian Calderon wants restaurateurs to think long and hard before giving you a straw.
Calderon, the Democratic majority leader in California’s lower house, has introduced a bill to stop sit-down restaurants from offering customers straws with their beverages unless they specifically request one. Under Calderon’s law, a waiter who serves a drink with an unrequested straw in it would face up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
“We need to create awareness around the issue of one-time use plastic straws and its detrimental effects on our landfills, waterways, and oceans,” Calderon explained in a press release.
This isn’t just Calderon’s crusade. The California cities of San Luis Obispo and Davis both passed straws-on-request laws last year, and Manhattan Beach maintains a prohibition on all disposable plastics. And up in Seattle, food service businesses won’t be allowed to offer plastic straws or utensils as of July.
Now, look, I can understand the sentiment that plastic straws are a big problem. They end up in the waterways, can cause serious problems with wildlife. But, where they tend to be a big problem is at the beach. Not in restaurants. When people are given a straw with a glass, they do not tend to take that drink with them. It tends to stay. People do not tend to pick them up and pocket them with the intention to create litter. Plus, this is California: I thought everyone was super environmentally conscious? No?
Anyhow, this being California, instead of just spreading awareness, asking restaurants to not provide a straw unless asked, they’re looking to go the authoritarian route with big punishment. It may not have been even voted on yet, but, what’s the chance this gets passed? 50/50? 60/40? 90/10? This is the majority leader of the California House who wants this. Democrats will want to keep him happy.
