are forbidden to supply straw. Previously, a restaurant in San Francisco, California, had a "free needle, illegal beverage straw" sign that caused a lot of heat, now, this kind of straw ban has been extended to the whole of California. California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a new law Thursday that bars restaurants across California from offering plastic straws to customers from next year.
The law does not prohibit the use of plastic straws as completely as San Francisco or Santa Barbara does, and local fast-food restaurants are not restricted, but in any case it adds a bit of trouble to diners. According to the act, illegal restaurants will be fined up to 300 dollars a year.
The law was introduced to protect marine life, presumably because of a video released by National Geographic magazine in which a straw was inserted into the turtle's nose and, for too long, grew with the turtle's flesh and blood. During the process of pulling out the straw, the turtle struggled fiercely and looked very painful. Democratic lawmakers who support the law say this is a small step towards reducing marine pollution.
Simply from the purpose and means, this law is quite correct. But if, like that restaurant, combined with other laws, it does have ironic effects.
Sentinel, a San Francisco sandwich store, has launched a new menu with complaints about new environmental policies: "Only when customers ask us to provide napkins, cups and straws, but needles are free. Welcome to San Francisco." The first half of the menu is not wrong, just the last one. The San Francisco government's policies to win the votes of drug addicts are in stark contrast.
In this regard, Xiaobian wants to say, is it more important to rescue drug addicts than to save turtles?