I have yet to see anyone speak of this particular fact, in the 1960's before there were plastic straws, we all drank from paper straws. They would flatten in the mouth, become soggy and could be chewed up and swallowed generally without harm. Then plastic straws came to be in the 1960s. And now it seems we will be going back to "old fashioned" type straws again. BTW, I would much rather been drinking my pop from a paper straw, that a metallic tasting metal straw. Just sayin . . .

http://www.eatingutensils.net/history-of-other-eating-utensils/drinking-straws-history/