Diageo and Pernod Ricard to ditch straws for cocktails

Doing their bit to save the planet from a deluge of plastic garbage, drinks companies Pernod Ricard and Diageo have announced plans to eliminate the use of plastic straws and stirrers.

That’s a shame, because why drink cocktails if they come without straws and gaudy umbrellas? But on a serious note, it’s high time these things are phased out.

Pernod Ricard said that following the rebirth of cocktails there has been an explosion in plastic straw usage globally. A straw which is only used on average for 20 minutes can take more than 200 years to break down into smaller pieces and often does not fully disintegrate. Non-biodegradable plastic is having a detrimental impact on the environment and oceans.

Diageo said its commitment to phasing out the use of all plastic straws and stirrers marks the next step in reducing the company’s environmental impact.