Today I learned that BYOB is an acronym for bring your own bottle, or booze, usually used when one is required to bring their own alocoholic beverages when invited to party or gatherings.
However in the community I live in and in Asia, this acronym is more commonly understood as bringing your own vessel, be it a container or bottle, for food or beverages when you go out. How it’s practiced is that you’d bring your own container to pack food or drinks when you order at a restaurant, shop, or when you do takeouts.
It’s a habit practiced by those of us who are concerned about plastic waste build-up in our environment.
Alternatively, for my husband and I, we would literally bring our own beverages out. This may be less common but there are many advantages to doing this, which I will list out below.
And even if the needs of the planet are not burdening you at the moment, there are other reasons you may want to cultivate this habit of bringing your own bottles or containers from home.
- Reduce cost
Most people who bring their bottles or containers out do tend to also make their own drinks from home. Drinks are expensive, be it a juice, or the all common coffee, smoothies, iced chocolates, or specialty teas. Where I’m at, it can cost about $4 to $5 dollars a cup.
For some, it may be that their homemade coffee may be preferred over the taste of the store-bought versions. My husband is a coffee person and he would buy his own beans and grind them at home, and would bring out his iced lattes, kept cool in his thermos.
We saved a lot, as this reduced our need for impulsive drinks outside when we walk in malls or at parks.
And of course, occasionally we will still order drinks outside, but I would only order if the beverage comes in vessels that are reused, usually glass cups that are washed after use in restaurants. - Reduce plastic waste
This is one of the top motivations for those who choose to use their own containers from home. You don’t have to be an environmentalist to know there is a growing issue with microplastics contamination globally now.
We bring our own containers when go take out food, asking shop owners to allow us to pack our food in our own vessels instead of taking the standard plastic packaging boxes.
Bubble teas are a growing trend where I live, and after drinking, there you have a large transparent plastic cup, and straw, to dispose off and will stay in our environment for the next 500 years.
It’s gotten so bad now that microplastics are now found in everyone, in our tissue, muscle, lungs, which will be explained in my next point. - Reducing PFAS and microplastic consumption
PFAS or Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances are also known as forever chemicals, they are found in food packaging and plastics, and exposure over time to these chemicals have been associated with serious health effects.
It causes an increased risk of certain cancers, liver and thyroid issues, affecting fertility and even may cause abnormalities in fetal development and growth in pregnant women.
It’s usually used in non-stick applications, such as grease-resistant paper in food packaging and in plastics such as fluorinated polyethylene and HDPE which are also used for numerous applications such in food packaging and containers.
To reduce exposure, use your own bottles that use inert safe materials in the internal lining of its body, such as stainless steel metals or a thermos for your drink, or glassware containers for hot food, these are safe as well.
Then there’s microplastics.
Microplastics are found to trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage on our bodies. Every scratch you see on your plastic cup, bottle, bowl or plate cause microplastics to transfer over to your nose, mouth, eyes, and into the environment. That sounds bad as each generation will accumulate more over the years since we all use plastic everyday. - Reduce blood sugar levels spikes and aids weight loss
If you are like me, trying to cut down sugar consumption, then making your own drinks at home and bringing them out will be a good way to support your health goals.
I’d make iced green teas or matchas, and my husband as mentioned makes his lattes at home. No sugar are added, and that helps to reduce blood sufare level spikes as compared to drinking sugary drinks, sodas, or fruit juices outside.
Now, let’s do the math.
If I were to purchase 1 cup of iced coffee outside in a take-away container once a week,let’s say from a similar shop like Starbuck. That would mean 52 plastic cups ( and straws) in a year from just one person. It’s much better for us to request the storekeeper to allow us to have it filled into our own bottles for take out.
And if it’s the cost that gets to you, assuming the cost of a tall cup of iced latte is $5, the total spent in a year is $260.
Is it worth it?
One last thing.
There is a saying that ignorance is bliss. I assumed it’s used when one does not want to think of the implications of events or actions, and chooses to ‘not think’ about matters. Hence, you are not affected by it.
But the fact of the matter is that in many things, this way of thinking is only really applicable to those who are powerless, or have no choice , or even influence in the outcome of events. Akin to a young kid, who has not much say in the decision making while parents take the lead.
And we are not kids, are we?
And if you can read, write, and are aware of global events and the needs of the environment, then this way of thinking no longer applies to you. Even more so, if you have kids of your own.
So stop ignoring, and maybe, you may feel compelled to take up some actions that may help us all out.
What is a fact, is that we have one earth to care for. So let’s try.