Coffee Cup Lids

[ethandron]

Not the most important question in the world but I'm curious...
When you buy coffee in a disposable cup and they put a lid on it, if you stay in the establishment you bought it from, why would you drink it through the hole in the lid? I thought lids were to stop the coffee slopping over if it was a takeaway drink and the hole was there to allow steam to escape so it didn't explode.
Isn't it dangerous to drink through the hole in case the lid comes off accidentally and the hot drink spills down your chin and chest?

[corylus]

Do you remember when thermos flasks were the only way to transport your coffee?

[rockyracoon]

I remember when you used to open them to find shards of bloody glass in your tea!

[diddlydo]

I totally agree with Boxtops. I would never, ever walk down the street with a takeaway coffee, nor sit on a train with one. If I want a coffee I want it in a proper cup and sit at a table with it at my leisure.

[maxtown]

I'm curious about when and how did it become popular?