Bottle addiction. Oral fixation. Whatever you want to call it.
They open the bottle, take a tiny sip, screw the cap back on. A couple minutes, later, they open the bottle, take a tiny sip, screw the cap back on. A couple minutes, later, they open the bottle, take a tiny sip, screw the cap back on. A couple minutes, later, they open the bottle, take a tiny sip, screw the cap back on. A couple minutes, later, they open the bottle, take a tiny sip, screw the cap back on. A couple minutes, later, they open the bottle, take a tiny sip, screw the cap back on. A couple minutes, later, they open the bottle, take a tiny sip, screw the cap back on. Etc.
You nailed it, once a person notices it he starts seeing how that nervous routine shows up in situations where it looks rather bizarre and out of place, even in elegant situations where a cheap plastic bottle looks absurd.