I don't really see the problem, unless the person is obsessively sucking the bottle. As long as he acts like an adult in the ways that matter, and as long as he isn't dependant upon the bottle, whose business is it? Seriously, what is it with our society making a big deal out of people doing perfectly harmless things for comfort? When I get nervous, sometimes I catch myself rocking back and forth. It's an instinctive act that is soothing. Parents rock their babies to soothe them and it's soothing in adulthood, also. Something else that soothes some people, is sucking on something. Some people suck on their thumb. Some people might chew instead, popping gum in their mouths. What's worse about sucking a bottle? It's comforting and way better than chewing your nails down past the quick. Ouch! I decided a few years ago that I really had enjoyed my bottle and I could remember it. I kind of missed it. I have an oral fixation and I was kind of craving something to suck on, so I bought a bottle. I filled it up and drank it. It was extremely soothing and relaxing to me. I didn't become dependant upon it. I sucked it a few diff. times, then didn't use it for months, maybe even a year or longer before I used it again. My friend said to be honest, she missed hers, too. Another friend who has a child, admitted to me that sometimes, she drank from his bottle, then cleaned it up for him. I think people naturally have a sucking instinct and our oral fixation often doesn't end in childhood. It's a soothing action, so we do it to relax, whether we chew gum, suck on a sucker, puff a cig., etc. Cigs are considered adult, but they are far more dangerous to suck on than a bottle. They also cost more money. I think a bottle is a more adult decision, more soothing, a lot cheaper, and a lot healthier! Also, it's not physically addictive. People can say, "Wow, you have problems, you sucked a bottle as an adult," but I could easily turn it around and say, "Yeah, but I don't have to do it, and it cost me about $1. You on the other hand, are addicted, spending ridiculous amounts of money, to suck on burning toxins." And anyway, at least I'm not giving anyone lung damage, or raising their cancer risk by sucking the bottle in the house with them. And my friend who sucked on a bottle wasn't poisoning her kid by the second hand bottle sucking, whereas, smoking around him would poison him. So, maybe it's more normal to suck on your cancer causing formaldehyde sticks than it is to drink healthy juice from a bottle, but if you ask me, the more sane and responsible decision, is the bottle. Both are often done as a means of soothing the self. Ironically, smoking also causes shortness of breath, coughing, etc.- things that are far from soothing. And it's irritating to the lungs. Sucking a bottle allows for the sucking action, without causing irritation, so it is far more soothing. It serves its purpose better, is cheaper, more respectful of others, healthier, less addictive, etc. than sucking on tobacco sticks.

As for ear problems, which was mentioned by another poster- bottles don't just cause ear issues for adults, they can cause them in children and babies. It's not like they esp. cause problems in adults, to my knowledge. There are special bottles (which I don't have, but like I said, I rarely use one, anyway, and haven't in the past year), that help prevent vaccums from being formed when sucking on the bottle. That in turn, lowers the chances of bottle sucking causing ear problems. Also, I believe part of the issue has to do with the degree of pressure exerted when sucking- it you cut a bigger hole in the nipple, it might help. You should also get one that's free from toxins like BPA. These things (with the exception of the big hole, of course), should also be observed when buying a baby a bottle.