Straw gripper and tab separator for disposable cup or lid and methods of use

An apparatus to secure a straw to a cup lid having a perimeter flange;

• the cup lid is secured to a rim of a drinking cup having a sidewall, said apparatus comprising:
• a substantially horizontal planar tab extends outwardly from the perimeter flange of the cup lid, said substantially horizontal planar tab having an exterior edge with a straw capture and alignment port;
• said straw capture and alignment port having a slit to divide said planar tab into a first tab section and second tab section, said slit having a first slit end and a second slit end;
• said first tab section having a first straw contact finger configured therein and said second tab section having a second straw contact finger configured therein, each said first straw contact finger and said second straw contact finger separated by said slit, endpoints of cutouts of said first straw contact finger and said second straw contact finger converge on said second slit end;
• said first straw contact finger and said second straw contact finger are hingeably configured to removably secure the straw against a straw contact rim formed in said planar tab by a cutout of said first straw contact finger and said second straw contact finger, and
• wherein said straw capture and alignment port points tangential thereto the perimeter flange of the cup lid.