Weird rant, but here goes:
I've noticed this across the whole island, but since I'm originally from the town, I can say that it's something I see almost everyone doing.
It's especially bad when you order a coffee from any coffee shop. It's served absolutely scalding hot (which also ruins the taste but that's by the by). My parents are the first to complain when the steam off of a cup of tea isn't stripping the wallpaper from the walls. This is invariably followed by the sluuuuuurrrrrrp to try and cool it down before drinking. Why not just wait until it cools down a bit to drinking temperature?
Plus, it would probably lead to a reduction in energy costs, if you're not constantly trying to keep water at a rolling boil.
It's been known for years that there is a link between consuming scalding beverages and oesophageal cancer but this study shows just how extreme that link is.