National Skip the Straw Day

National Skip the Straw Day is an annual American holiday that encourages people to stop using plastic drinking straws. In most cases, straws are unnecessary, and drinking directly from a glass, bottle, or can helps reduce plastic waste worldwide. The holiday is observed on the fourth Friday in February each year.

History

National Skip the Straw Day was established in 2017 by the environmental initiative group Coral Keepers. Alongside organizing lectures and events about reducing household plastic use, the group also promotes finding biodegradable alternatives to plastic straws.

Drinking straws first appeared in 1888 when Marvin Stone from Washington, D.C., received a patent for his invention. He created the first paper straw after being dissatisfied with the taste of herbal straws in his favorite cocktail. By wrapping the straw in manila paper, he developed the earliest version of the modern straw.

The widespread use of plastic in the second half of the 20th century led to the rise of disposable plastic straws, which do not biodegrade. Coral Keepers encourage everyone to skip using straws—at least on National Skip the Straw Day, if not every day—to help reduce global plastic pollution.

Interesting Facts

• Plastic waste can take centuries to decompose, making it crucial to reduce its volume for the sake of future generations.
• Cocktail straws are among the top ten most common types of waste in the world.
• Tens of millions of plastic straws are thrown away each year in the United States alone.

How to Take Part

Say no to plastic straws on National Skip the Straw Day. Take the opportunity to learn more about the Coral Keepers and the environmental impact of plastic pollution.

Share the message on social media. Ask others how often they use plastic straws and encourage them to make a change.

When is National Skip the Straw Day in 2026?

National Skip the Straw Day is observed on the fourth Friday in February each year.

Observations