Buzz
It's common knowledge that sharing drinks can spread viruses and bacteria. The CDC advises against it to prevent illnesses like mononucleosis or the common cold. However, there are times when you might want to share a drink with a friend.
Guidelines
Choosing the Right Beverage
Opt for a sealed beverage. Avoid sharing drinks that have already been opened or partially consumed.
- This includes water bottles that have been refilled but not thoroughly cleaned. They may still contain germs that can spread through saliva residue.
Clean your hands. Before opening the drink, ensure you wash your hands thoroughly. This reduces the transfer of germs to the drink's surface. Handwashing remains the most effective method to prevent disease transmission.
- Start by wetting your hands with warm or cold water.
- Apply soap and lather your hands for at least 20 seconds. Singing or humming 'Happy Birthday' can help time this.
- Rinse your hands under clean water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or allow them to air dry.
Directly Squirting the Drink into Your Mouth
Create a hole in the lid. Instead of removing the entire lid, consider puncturing a hole in it. This allows you to pour the liquid directly into your mouth without touching the lid.
- To create the hole, use a sharp tool (like a knife or fork) and apply pressure to the lid's top. Exercise caution to avoid accidental injury. Perform this on a stable surface and always cut away from yourself.
Opt for a squeeze bottle. Using a squeeze bottle provides better control when pouring liquid directly into your mouth without contacting the rim. It offers a tidier drinking experience.
- A squeeze bottle may offer more precision than a bottle with a punctured lid.
Squirt the beverage directly into your mouth. Position the bottle above your mouth, approximately 6 inches away from your lips. Gently squeeze if the liquid doesn't flow naturally due to gravity. Avoid touching the bottle to your lips or mouth to minimize germ transfer. Be cautious not to squeeze too hard, or you may spill your drink!
Sharing Your Drink Using Glasses
Consider your drinking partner. Dr. Thomas Connley suggests a useful guideline: avoid sharing drinks with someone you wouldn't kiss on the lips. This minimizes exposure to both the person and their germs.
- Sharing drinks can lead to contracting various illnesses such as mono or meningitis. Additionally, consider the other person's health history; many people can carry viruses without showing symptoms. For instance, someone may be a carrier of the cold sore virus without ever experiencing symptoms (approximately 90% of adults carry the virus).
Divide the drink into glasses. An easy method to share a drink with friends is by pouring it into clean, separate glasses. This allows for sharing without the risk of germ transmission. Enjoy your drink together while keeping germs at bay!
- If you're concerned about equal portions, use a measuring cup to ensure each glass receives the same amount of liquid.
Share the drink from a single glass. Pouring a drink into a single glass before sharing it with a friend offers several options.
- Utilize straws to isolate your germs to the area where your mouth meets the straw. However, there may still be traces of saliva in the drink.
Helpful Suggestions
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Another perspective is the 'hygiene hypothesis,' which proposes that children who lack early exposure to germs fail to develop a strong immune system, thus becoming more vulnerable to illness in the long run.
