Connecticut Public Act 21-58 makes plastic straws available in food service only on customer request. Bridgeport restaurants must follow this upon-request rule but are not required to ban plastic straws outright, preserving access for disability needs.
Connecticut's straws-on-request law, enacted in 2021 under Public Act 21-58 and codified within state statutes, prohibits food service establishments from automatically providing single-use plastic straws to customers. Straws must be made available upon request only. The rule recognizes disability accommodation needs that paper or compostable straws may not meet. Bridgeport restaurants must train staff to comply, post optional notices, and maintain plastic straws for customers who ask. Self-service straw dispensers are permitted as long as they are clearly marked. The law does not apply to drive-through orders for prepackaged drinks or to straws integrated into beverage containers like juice boxes. Enforcement is through DEEP and local health inspectors.
Automatically distributing plastic straws with every order, refusing to provide straws when requested by customers with disability needs, or failing staff training can result in citations and corrective orders.
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See how Bridgeport's plastic straw rules rules stack up against other locations.
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