DEAR ABBY: It's time someone publicized this. Chewing ice in your tea, coffee or soft drink is as rude as eating your food or cracking your gum with your mouth open.
As I write this, I am sitting in a nice neighborhood coffee shop. The man next to me ordered an iced beverage, which he has been chomping through for the last 10 minutes. This is rude under any conditions, but magnified by the fact that some of us are going over work matters and trying to enjoy a coffee and muffin break. Moreover, it is not good for teeth. Even if the ice crunching habit were benign with regard to health, it's inconsiderate of those in earshot. -- BREAKING THE ICE
DEAR BREAKING: Has it occurred to you and your co-workers to move to another table if the crunching annoys you? If it hasn't, I recommend it.