A. providing a container having an open top end with a plurality of straws disposed therein, each of said straws having a selected length terminating at opposite first and second ends and wherein at least a portion of said straws is uncovered;

B. providing a plurality of hollow sleeves each having at least one open end which is removably receivable over said first ends of said straws, said sleeves having a length which is less than said length of said straws, wherein each of said straws has a sleeve removably received over said first end thereof and wherein said second end of each of said straws is uncovered;

C. arranging said plurality of straws having said sleeves received over said first ends thereof in said container, with said second ends of said straws disposed within said container and said first ends of said straws with said sleeves received thereon accessible via said open top end of said container;

D. selecting one of said plurality of straws having said sleeves received thereon from said container by grasping at least one of said sleeves received over said first ends of said straws; and

E. placing said uncovered second end of said straw into a beverage while holding said sleeve received over said first end of said straw;

whereby removal of said sleeve in covering relation on said straw first end by said patron makes accessible a hygienically constituted straw end.