1317: "Do You Drink More Through a Straw?"
Interesting Things with JC #1317: "Do You Drink More Through a Straw?" – A simple straw changes everything. From soda cups to hospital beds, it silently drives us to drink more faster, sweeter, and without even noticing.
Curriculum - Episode Anchor
Episode Title: Do You Drink More Through a Straw?
Episode Number: #1317
Host: JC
Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area: Behavioral Science, Nutrition, Media Literacy
Lesson Overview
Students will be able to:
Define the relationship between straw use and liquid consumption habits.
Compare the effects of drinking with a straw versus without a straw.
Analyze how design elements (e.g., cup lids, straw diameter) influence human behavior.
Explain how commercial and medical industries use straws to affect consumption.
Key Vocabulary
Consumption (kun-SUMP-shun) — The act of drinking or ingesting liquids. "Straw use increases beverage consumption without conscious awareness."
Hydration (hi-DRAY-shun) — The process of providing adequate fluid to the body. "Straws in hospitals aid patient hydration."
Friction (FRIK-shun) — Resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another. "Removing friction from drinking leads to higher intake."
Sensory feedback (SEN-suh-ree FEED-bak) — Information received through senses that influences actions. "The lack of smell with a straw dulls sensory feedback."
Behavioral cue (bih-HAY-vyer-uhl KYO͞O) — A signal that prompts a person to act in a specific way. "Lifting a cup signals a behavioral cue to stop drinking."
Narrative Core (Based on the PSF – relabeled)
Open: A simple question—do you drink more through a straw?—draws listeners into an everyday mystery.
Info: Studies reveal that straw users consume more liquid, with Penn State research citing up to 25% more intake.
Details: The physiology and psychology of drinking through straws are examined, with emphasis on ease, sensory suppression, and consumer behavior.
Reflection: The implications span health, marketing, and design—from hospital care to fast food influence.
Closing: "These are interesting things, with JC."
Transcript
Interesting Things with JC #1317: "Do You Drink More Through a Straw?"
It seems like a small thing. You’re drinking a soda, or iced coffee. Sometimes with a straw, sometimes without. But here’s the question, does using a straw actually make you drink more?
Turns out, yes. In study after study, people who drink from straws tend to take in more liquid than people who sip straight from the glass. A research group at Penn State found that straw users drank up to 25% more without realizing it. And the sweeter or colder the drink, the bigger the gap.
The reason’s simple. A straw makes sipping easier. You don’t have to tilt the cup, you don’t pause as often, and there’s no change in pace. That steady stream of liquid slips past your body’s usual stop signals. No tilt, no mess, no effort, just more drink, faster.
Fast food places figured this out decades ago. That’s why large soda cups, 32 ounces (946 milliliters), even 44 (1.3 liters), always come with a lid and straw. Not just to keep the drink cold, but to keep you sipping without thinking. Bigger straws mean more liquid per pull. And the lid keeps you from smelling what you’re drinking, which also delays how full you feel.
It’s not just about soda. Hospitals use straws to get patients to drink more water. Sports bottles come with built-in straws for athletes who need to hydrate fast. Even in wine tastings, straws are sometimes used to slow the nose and focus on the taste.
The straw works like a speed dial. It doesn’t force you to drink more, it just removes the little bits of friction that normally slow you down.
So yes, when you drink through a straw, you usually drink more. And you probably won’t notice it.
These are interesting things, with JC.
Student Worksheet
What did researchers at Penn State discover about straw use?
How do straws influence the body's usual stop signals?
Why do fast food restaurants pair large cups with straws?
In what non-commercial settings are straws used for utility?
Write your own brief explanation of how straws alter drinking behavior.
Teacher Guide
Estimated Time: 1 class period (45–60 minutes)
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:
Use visual diagrams to show straw vs. non-straw drinking.
Conduct a pre-listening brainstorm on drinking habits.
Anticipated Misconceptions:
Students may think straws force more consumption rather than subtly enabling it.
Some may assume the effect is intentional or malicious rather than design-based.
Discussion Prompts:
Should beverage companies limit straw use for health reasons?
Can design be both helpful (hydration) and harmful (overconsumption)?
Differentiation Strategies:
ESL: Use image cards for key vocabulary.
IEP: Provide graphic organizers to sequence narrative parts.
Gifted: Ask students to research similar design principles in other industries (e.g., gaming, food packaging).
Extension Activities:
Conduct a class experiment measuring liquid consumption with/without straws.
Analyze marketing designs from beverage brands.
Cross-Curricular Connections:
Physics: Fluid dynamics in straw flow.
Health: Hydration and caloric intake.
Media Literacy: Influence of marketing design on consumer behavior.
Quiz
Q1. What percentage more liquid did straw users drink in the Penn State study?
A. 10%
B. 25%
C. 40%
D. 5%
Answer: B
Q2. Why does a straw allow for more continuous drinking?
A. It uses suction power
B. It masks sweetness
C. It reduces effort and pausing
D. It cools the drink faster
Answer: C
Q3. How do fast food restaurants use straw design to influence behavior?
A. To improve drink taste
B. To reduce spills
C. To delay fullness
D. To match meal sizes
Answer: C
Q4. In what professional setting are straws used to increase water intake?
A. Coffee shops
B. Hospitals
C. Bars
D. Museums
Answer: B
Q5. What role does smell play in drinking through a straw?
A. It enhances the experience
B. It reduces calorie intake
C. It is blocked by the lid and straw
D. It triggers thirst
Answer: C
Assessment
Why might drinking through a straw be recommended in medical settings?
How do straws influence both physical and psychological aspects of consumption?
3–2–1 Rubric:
3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful
2 = Partial or missing detail
1 = Inaccurate or vague
Standards Alignment
Common Core (ELA):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.1 — Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science/technical texts.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1 — Initiate and participate effectively in collaborative discussions on grade-level topics.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
HS-LS1-3 — Plan and conduct investigations to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
ISTE Standards for Students:
1.5a — Students formulate problem definitions and use critical thinking to develop solutions informed by data.
UK National Curriculum (Science – KS4):
Sc5/2.1a — Understand how the human body responds to sensory stimuli and feedback.
IB MYP Sciences (Year 4–5):
Criterion B: Inquiring and designing — Formulate a testable hypothesis and explain the scientific reasoning.
Show Notes
This episode investigates whether drinking through a straw causes people to consume more liquid—and the science says yes. Research shows that straws remove small physical and sensory cues, such as the need to tilt a cup or the smell of a beverage, which normally signal when to stop drinking. Without these cues, people sip more continuously and end up drinking significantly more—up to 25% more fluid in some cases.
This behavioral pattern is supported by academic studies. Lin, Lo, and Liao (2013) demonstrated that the size of a straw affects perceived and actual consumption, with wider straws allowing for more liquid per sip. Their study, published in Marketing Letters, provides quantitative evidence of how utensil design alters drinking behavior. Meanwhile, Stafford and colleagues (2023) found that straw-like spouts increased water intake, particularly when individuals were prompted with subtle nudges rather than overt instructions.
These findings are applied in multiple domains. Fast food restaurants use large cups, lids, and straws to increase soda consumption without the consumer realizing it. Hospitals rely on straws to encourage hydration in patients, especially those with mobility or health challenges. In sports and performance settings, built-in straw mechanisms allow athletes to hydrate efficiently during physical activity.
This episode is directly relevant to behavioral science, design psychology, and health education. It offers an accessible, real-world example of how everyday objects influence our actions—reinforcing media literacy, consumer awareness, and ethical design discussions in the classroom.
References:
Lin, H.-M., Lo, H.-Y., & Liao, Y.-S. (2013). More than just a utensil: The influence of drinking straw size on perceived consumption. Marketing Letters, 24(4), 381–386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-013-9225-6
