Plastics rule at Luminar bars Government still against glassware ban18th January 2008 Report Courtesy of the Morning Advertiser The Government has re-iterated its opposition to blanket bans on glassware in pubs. The advice comes in a new guide for police and councils on drawing up local strategies for combating alcohol-related problems. The guide says: "The Government believes that a risk-based, rather than blanket, approach to requiring licensed premises to use safer alternatives is the best way to tackle the problem of glass-related injuries." The document stresses that the Licensing Act allows councils to ban glass at high-risk premises where necessary. It adds: "The Government is committed to producing a good-practice guide to help local areas secure replacement of glassware and bottles with safer alternatives in high-risk individual premises by late 2008." The Government said in its updated Alcohol Strategy, released last summer, that local alcohol strategies must be in place by April. The new guide, called the Alcohol Strategy Local Implementation Toolkit, also says a campaign is planned for next year to raise awareness of alcohol units. NIGHT MAGAZINE and BEDA on PolycarbonatesFrom: June 2007 Report by Alex Eyre Courtesy of Night Magazine Subscribe to NIGHT magazine Operators, regulators and producers were invited by BEDA to discuss the merits and challenges associated with polycarbonate glassware use in a round table discussion. NIGHT reports exclusively on the outcome of a full and frank debate The use of polycarbonate glasses in licensed premises is an emotive topic and in recent months it has dominated headlines with increasing frequency.
With operators striving to demonstrate their socially responsible credentials, police continuing in their quest to combat crime, a new generation of plastic glassware on the market and political pressure ratcheting up, is an entirely plastic on trade landscape becoming an inevitability?
This was the question under debate at a meeting hosted by BEDA in May that brought together operators, regulators and producers to discuss the issues surrounding glass use.
Explains event organiser, BEDA Executive Director Paul Smith: “With the increased scrutiny on this area over recent months, we felt it was time to have a wide ranging conversation which encompassed a range of key stakeholders, to get an overview of where the plastic/glass debate was at this present time. Our position has always been that we will fight the imposition of blanket glass bans, believing instead that responsible operators should have the power to choose to adopt polycarbonates – or not - depending on their style of operation and management preference. But as an Association we were keen from the outset that we wouldn’t pre-judge the debate. Instead we wanted to have a full and frank discussion to do with three key areas: glass related harms, perceptions of polycarbonates and issues surrounding supply and production.
Constructive ConversationsWhilst opinion on the glass issue is traditionally polarised – with pro- and anti-plastic factions arguing passionately for their cause – the BEDA meeting adopted a more consensual approach in a bid to develop mutual understanding and, in turn, a constructive debate. The meeting began with an overview of the issue from a police perspective. Licensing spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Chris Allison, welcomed the format of the meeting, saying: “I think it’s far better that this issue is tackled through partnership and constructive dialogue rather than reverting to the entrenched, polarised positions perpetuated by certain sections of the press.” Chris outlined his take on the debate. “We know we’ve got an issue of excessive drinking in society. We know we’ve got an issue with people being stupid after they’ve drunk alcohol. And occasionally and sadly that leads to some people being seriously injured, by bottles or by glass. “In recent years a range of alternatives to glass have developed. With the advent of modern polycarbonates there is a better quality product out there which seems to deal with lots of what I would have seen as understandable reservations from people in respect of quality, etc. And in light of these developments, my position is that there now exists a viable way of dramatically reducing serious injury - by replacing glass with polycarbonate in all on trade premises. My basic premise is, that’s got to be a good thing. So I want to know, what can we do to start moving ourselves towards that? What barriers exist?”
Chris extended the question to operators representing different elements of the licensed trade. Paul Kinsey from Nexum Leisure, Nathan Wall from JD Wetherspoon, Simon Kaye and John Walker from Regent Inns and Will Beckett from Underdog Group each run very different styles of venue, but all were in agreement that polycarbonate was not universally undesirable – with three of the four already using polycarbonate in some of their sites.
Also, said Paul Kinsey, confirming the shared starting point of the debate: “I’d be amazed if there was one person in the trade who would disagree with your view of wanting to reduce glass related injuries.”
But, the operators argued, the notion of encouraging the entire on trade to introduce polycarbonate glassware was a disproportionate response to the problem.
“The view of the trade is one of proportionality,” said Simon Kaye, Regent Inns’ Commercial Director. “There are circumstances where the type of venue, type of operation and the time of day make it such that the likelihood of a glass-related incident is higher than it would be at another time or in another environment, and in those circumstances, polycarbonate may be absolutely the right choice. But in restaurants, or in venues with a demonstrably lower level of risk, then toughened glass may be the right choice – particularly when you consider that time after time research shows that the public consider drinking out of plastic a downgrading of their experience.
“The notion that as an industry we should anticipate a time, be it five or 10 years down the line, where all experiences are in plastic – we would argue that is disproportionate. It is not a move well targeted to where the risk exists.”
Proportionality The concept of proportionality then came under scrutiny . “I’ll give you a ridiculous example,” said Simon, to explain the trade’s perception of moves to put a blanket ban on glass. “It’s like saying, we have car accidents, so take all cars off the road.”
“I’ll throw you this back,” countered Chris. “Many years ago we said everybody should wear a crash helmet on a motor bike. People resisted. We said, wear a seatbelt in your car. People said, this is a fundamental affront to my human rights! But, actually, it was a sensible measure to reduce the risk of people getting injured. That’s what we’re trying to do here.”
Perception
As to the public’s perception of plastic glassware, said Chris, were they really aware of the quality of modern polycarbonate options?
“I’ve heard lots of people say, you can’t take my drink out of a glass because it will change the taste of the drink. But, actually, I think the real reason people are so attached to glass is because they’re used to it. It’s a cultural thing.”
Simon Kaye disagrees:
“Plastic substantially compromises the quality of the drinking experience. We take the view that in some cases, polycarbonates are a necessary measure in ensuring customer safety, and we'll implement them - even if doing so reduces the level of customer satisfaction associated with visiting the venue. But there are other types of operations where to ask customers to drink out of a polycarbonate glass would fatally compromise their experience, and they will simply not come back." Will Beckett, whose upmarket venues include stylish tequila tasting bar Green & Red, concurred, making the point that whilst some customers would accept their pints in polycarbonate pots, others might be somewhat less receptive to Chris's all-plastic vision. "We run restaurants, cocktail bars and a restaurant where almost all the wet sales are wine, and I cannot see that putting polycarbonate glasses into a venue like that, where someone is spending £80 on a bottle of wine, is an appropriate step to take – unless you can tell me, categorically, that the customer wont even know the difference. If you could get the range of glassware, no damage to customer perceptions and no cost implications, could you justify the move to plastic? Of course. But we are not at that stage yet.”
“There is no doubt that at the moment perceptions of plastic are mixed,” Chris conceded. “But there is a bit for me that says, why don’t we, collectively, take on a bit of social responsibility and not just accept the public views for what they are, but try and change them so the public starts to think, ‘Yes I can drink out of something different. It doesn’t change the experience for me’. If by getting people drinking out of polycarbonate we stop hundreds of people losing their sight over the year across the country, I think that the trade offs we’re talking about are acceptable.”
Steps Forward
The trade stated that they felt that key barriers to the more widespread implementation of polycarbonate were product quality, customer perceptions, product range, price and environmental credentials.
On product quality, says Andy Bond of Global Brands, which produces and bottles VK Vodka Kick, “For a sweet product like VK the taste and shelf life has hardly altered, but putting beer products into PET is more challenging. The shelf life of PET products is generally shorter,
PET bottles take longer to chill down and warm up more quickly in the hand.”
Cost discrepancies also make a move to plastic difficult, with operators paying between 8% and 25% more for PET than glass-bottled products. On the glassware side, the price of quality polycarbonate was quoted as four times more expensive than nucleated toughened glass. “Plastic will always be more expensive than glass,” says Andy Bond. “The price is more volatile because it’s oil price dependent.”
According to Nigel Pollard from SNUK, “polycarbonate also degrade more rapidly.”
“We try to serve our product in the best possible condition,” he continued, “and many of the critical quality factors – including temperature, appearance and cleanliness – are affected dramatically when you serve the product in plastic.”
Range
The ranging issues began with a discussion of the brands available in PET bottles.
“The bigger brands will survive, but smaller brands will be massively affected. There’s no way a small beer manufacturer is a continental country is going to install PET bottling facilities to serve the UK market – they will simply stop selling into the UK,” says Nigel Pollard. It may be possible to move the major brands across to PET in 3-4 years, agreed Nigel and Andy, but the implications for the customer choice would still be immense. “Customer choice would be significantly affected,” said Jon Collins of research consultancy CGA. Chris Allison’s suggestion that a possible reduction of the number of brands in the market should not used as a reason for not progressing the issue, and Adrian Studd’s proposal that imported glass-bottled lagers could be decanted into plastic pots before serving were dismissed as “missing the point.”
Glasgow Experience
Perhaps more significant that a reduction in the number of brands, argued Nathan Wall of Wetherspoons, was that a switch to plastic would also impact the range of customers using visiting the on trade. His comments mirrored those made by MP John Grogan, who on 15 May tabled an early day motion opposing moves by police forces to force pubs and clubs to replace glasses with polycarbonate containers.
“One of our major concerns – and I’ve seen in with my own eyes in Glasgow and elsewhere – is that where polycarbonate has been introduced, you end up with a younger clientele and you loose that broad age range customer base,” Nathan said.
“The challenge the industry currently faces is one of upgrading the experience on the high street in order to encourage a broader clientele on the streets. Because that, in itself, actually leads to better behaviour.”
The move towards polycarbonates seems to offer a logical solution, he continued: take away glass and people won’t get glassed. “But there’s a lot of research that backs up the insight that people because violent for a number of reasons – the way the premises is run, crowding, personal issues, etc – and that there are things that we can do as licensees with regards to design, control, management that reduce the likelihood of flashpoints and in turn the risk of glass related incidents. These options should be explored.”
Checklist For Success?
On this point, suggested Jon Collins, perhaps there was an opportunity to move forward.
“BEDA and ACPO could jointly devise a document that would be the basis for a risk-assessed approach for every premises,” he offered. “The document could list all the risk-reduction factors operators need to consider in their premises. If someone ticks all the boxes then the local authority can be confident that the venue does not need to implement plastic. But if they don’t tick them all, the response would be to implement plastic, for some or all of the trading sessions.
“A move such as this will help evolve the situation, because the producers will suddenly see an increase in demand, production runs will be increased, and maybe we’ll see an increase in the number of brands available in plastic.
“It would also remove the frequency with which certain forces, maybe even certain officers, are running ahead of the national trend and trying to pressure operators – often through informal conversations - into moving across to polycarbonate.”
But Chris was concerned that this approach – sanctioning glass in certain situations – “encourages people to hang on to the past. The perception will be that there are still posh premises which have glass, and other premises which don’t. And operators will maintain that they want glass in their premises. If we’re trying to instigate a cultural shift then differentiating in this way will undermine that effort.”
But, argued Will, surely the threat of a glass ban is useful in incentivising operators to improve standards?
Adds Nigel: “If we single out the poorly run venues with plastic, I as Joe Consumer can make a decision – that venue has got glass, it doesn’t attract trouble, I’ll put my custom there. That place has got plastic, it’s obviously had trouble, I’ll take a view as to whether to go in there or not. “
“We’re already using our powers to do that,” said Chris. “And that doesn’t account for the fact that there’s always the first time that somebody gets glassed in a place.
“I want to take the debate on. We need to look at how to change people’s opinions entirely. How do we make plastic as cool as it is to drink out of a bottle with a small lime in the top?
Nathan Wall mentioned the example of respected wine producers’ decisions to move from corks to screw caps to demonstrate that it might be possible to affect change. “If you could get groups like CAMRA to accept a plastic glass, that would be quite interesting,” he smiled.
Tipping Point
If industry were to accept a move to plastic, said Chris, it would be necessary to address all of these issues. But developments in quality, range and cost could not be achieved without increased demand. “At what point do we reach the tipping point, where plastics producers deem it worthwhile to generate the quantity and quality of products at a cost that operators are happy with? How can we move toward this point?”
“Surely there’s a case here for Governement to spend money on the situation – because from what you’ve said, making plastic acceptable and prompting its universal usage it could save the NHS millions each year,” considers Will Beckett.
Responds Chris: “I think the position the Government would take is, this is a problem created by the trade, because if people weren’t going to your premises and drinking, then this wouldn’t be happening. Therefore the people who should be footing the bill for that are the people who are supplying the product: the polluter should pay.”
Paul Kinsey suggested an alternative.
“Perhaps there’s another way. If by adopting plastic, industry is saving the Government millions each year, perhaps Government would be prepared to reinvest those savings in the industry in the form of tax breaks or similar. There could be a capital benefit in the tax regime that makes it advantageous for operators to adopt plastic.”
“I’d be supportive of that,” agrees Chris.
Outcome
Following the meeting, BEDA has committed to progressing the polycarbonate debate by exploring several of the points raised, including:
• Seeking to formally engage at local level with Chief Constables, the authorities and trade to broker fair and workable local polycarbonate policies. • By exploring the possibility of securing Government support for the move to polycarbonate through relevant tax breaks for on trade businesses. • By exploring the possibility of independent consumer research into customer perspectives on polycarbonate. BEDA’s view will continue to be that we will challenge the blanket imposition of glass bans, but we want to work constructively with operators, producers, police and authorities, both locally and nationally, to reduce glass related violence within licensed premises.” Calls for using polcarbonates 'coming thick and fast'05/04/2007 Report by: Paul Charity & Tony Halstead Courtesy of the Morning Advertiser
Managed pub chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has reported that requests from police to introduce polycarbonate glasses have been coming in "thick and fast" in the past month. Newport in South Wales, Fareham in Hampshire, Trowbridge in Wiltshire, Slough in Berkshire, Kingston in Surrey, Ilford in Essex and Daventry in Northamptonshire, are among the new towns where police have called for plastic glasses to be introduced. Many Pubwatch meetings in the south-west of the country have also received presentations from the police on the merits of polycarbonate glass, while West Dorset District Council has decided to "encourage" pubs to switch to plastic glasses. The increase in police requests for plastic glasses follows a national conference, held last November, where police forces heard about their success in reducing problems of violence in Bournemouth. Association of Chief Police Offices lead on licensing Chris Allison threw his weight behind polycarbonates at the conference, and the gathering also heard from Marjorie Goulding, whose son was badly injured in a glass attack in Milton Keynes, Bucks. JDW CEO John Hutson has argued that police requests for a blanket introduction of plastic glasses represent a bigger threat to the pub trade than the smoking ban. He said: "Requests are coming in thick and fast. "With underage drinking, the major companies were called in by Government and were told what was bothering it, what the problem is. "It was slightly bullying on the part of Government but we could say, 'We take your point and will do something about it'. But there has been no equivalent round-table discussion of plastic glasses. "This is drifting down from police forces in an unreasoned way." JDW senior licensing and planning solicitor Melinka Berridge said: "This issue has been raised at just about every south-west Pubwatch meeting in the past month. "The police go from suggesting a switch to polycarbonate to giving a full presentation on the issue." Another industry source told the MA that he received a letter from police in one town indicating that a licence- review application could result for pubs that have not switched to plastic glasses and have glass-based violent incidents. Plastic cannot be enforced Police have no legal powers to force licensees to stock plastic glasses, says MA legal editor Peter Coulson. "The Licensing Act has no provision for the police to impose blanket conditions that would compel licensees to 'go plastic'. Any condition would have to be tailored to a particular premises by the licensing authority itself through a licensing review based on that pub's circumstances." "There is clear suspicion that the police are trying through the back door to get pubs to go plastic." Coulson said local authorities had the right to amend licensing policies to include provision for plastic glasses on grounds of public safety, but that would only affect new licence applications. "I have grave doubts whether a council could amend its policy, then try to make it retrospective." PUBWATCH view National Pubwatch says there is no justification for a blanket glassware ban in pubs. "We have no difficulty with polycarbonate glasses where there is a clear problem in a particular premises. But we do not see any need for a blanket ban as a matter of policy," said honorary secretary Malcolm Eidmans. "Where do you draw the line and will any other venue where alcohol is sold, such as a restaurant or hotel, be sucked in too?" he said. "If there's a clear problem in a pub I'd expect the licensee to identify it and take necessary action. "There's no justification for imposing a blanket ban which hits premises where there's no clear problem." Views from the trade Licensees have given the prospect of plastic glasses a huge thumbs-down. Hosts say the artificial containers will be a massive turn-off for the majority of pub customers. They also reject polycarbonate vessels on grounds of expense, quality and lack of style. Steve Murphy, joint operator of the Church House Inn, Bollington, Cheshire, said: "I rarely agree with one-size-fits-all policies - and this is a classic example. I have sympathy for police doing their job around urban centres, but asking all pubs to go plastic is simply wrong." Scarborough LVA president Kath Duffy, who runs the seafront Newcastle Packet, said plastic glasses "simply do not look good." She said: "I'm certain most of the regular customers would be appalled at the idea, although there may be a case for plastic glasses in outside areas." John Farrell, of Blackpool's Duke of York, who is also vice- chairman of the town's Pubwatch, said he had doubts about the quality of plastic glasses. "Pubwatch is due to discuss this at its next meeting but I'm certain most members will express major doubts," he revealed. Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations chief executive Tony Payne said hosts should not be coerced by police into using plastic. "If a licensee is approached by police, my advice would be to ask them their grounds for making the request. There's no evidence that plastic glasses are safer. I can't understand where the police are coming from," he said. police responses to the issue vary across regions The introduction of polycarbonate glasses is being orchestrated by police chiefs on a regional basis, MA enquiries have revealed. In some towns, local forces are implementing directives dictated by senior officers at regional level. Across the Thames Valley area, which embraces the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, police have been instructed to promote the use of plastic containers wherever possible. In Slough, larger pubs are being contacted and urged to use plastic glasses, which have been supplied free to allow licensees to "test the water". "We have begun by targeting the bigger premises but would hope this will eventually spread to all pubs in the town," said licensing sergeant Jim Ferguson. "There has been a little resistance, but the majority of licensees have been upbeat about it all. We are having ongoing discussions through the local pubwatch group," he said. "This policy has come from the top of the force." In Northampton, police are urging hosts to consider a "plastic-only" policy for all drinks served after midnight. "I have a vision that all pubs and clubs in the town will be totally polycarbonate before the year is finished," said sergeant Mark Worthington. "Whether this will happen is another matter, but I certainly believe we could have plastic glasses, and hopefully plastic bottles, in town-centre pubs with the most potential for violence." Ten Liverpool pubs are experimenting with plastic glasses in a scheme partly funded by the National Health Service. The city's Chamber of Commerce, which co-ordinates the local Pubwatch, has obtained funding that will cover the extra cost of stocking polycarbonate containers in the selected venues. "We want to see all city-centre pubs using plastic," revealed Pubwatch co-ordinator Joe Curran. "This is particularly important as July's smoking ban will mean many more people drinking outside," he said. Lancashire police said that it encourages licensees in towns across the county to use plastic where individual circumstances dictate. "We are mainly talking about big vertical-drinking establishments - not rural or real-ale pubs," said sergeant Richard Hurt of the force's Operation Support Services. Manchester licensing police said there was no blanket policy on plastic containers in any part of the city. Chief Inspector Paul Acton, of Manchester City Centre Safe, said: "We will only act when we have evidence of a specific problem. Licensing reviews will be a last resort." A licensing police spokesman in Ilford, Essex, said that only selected town-centre premises had been asked to adopt plastic glasses. Sign Up to the Morning Advertiser Campaign 17/04/2007 
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The Morning Advertiser has launched an online petition on the Prime Minister’s website opposing the introduction of blanket glass bans. There is growing concern at the number of police forces up and down the country looking to impose polycarbonate plastic glasses on venues with no history of trouble. "CAMRA feels that it is totally unnecessary to ban the use of glassware in all pubs"  A CAMRA spokesman. The MA is campaigning for a targeted approach to the use of plastic glasses and hopes the online petition – with your support – will further the cause. To sign the petition visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/plasticglass and make sure you forward the link to as many people as possible to gain further support. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has thrown its weight behind the petition which reads: “We feel blanket bans on glass are unnecessary and will have a detrimental effect on the licensed trade and the drinking experience of the millions of law-abiding pub goers in well-run establishments up and down the country.” CAMRA is to urge its members to sign the petition in its magazine What Brewing? and through email alerts. A CAMRA spokesman said: “CAMRA feels that it is totally unnecessary to ban the use of glassware in all pubs and replace it with plastic containers from which to drink beer and cider. “The answer is for pubs to be properly controlled, for empty glasses to be collected when they are empty and to ensure that no one who is drunk is served. “There may be occasions - outside events for instance when the use of plastic instead of glass may be advisable but these should be the exception rather than the rule. “CAMRA also feels that the practice of serving bottled beers without a glass is something that should be discouraged. A bottle is probably a more lethal weapon than a glass. “Serving beer in a plastic glass tend to cheapen the product and does little to enhance the drinking experience. Would you serve a quality claret in a paper cup?” Police threaten Reading pubs over glassware ban15/02/2007 Written by: John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.uk Courtesy of the Morning AdvertiserA senior Reading policeman has threatened to call for licence reviews at late night venues that won't ditch glass containers. Reading's inspector Andy Bagnall wants town-centre bars that open after 11pm to switch to safer polycarbonate vessels to reduce glassing injuries in the Berkshire town. However, Reading Pub-watch has said that blanket glass bans are "unfair". Bagnall told the MA: "I'm looking at venues that open from 11pm. I would expect them to have polycarbonate in place." When asked about what action he would take if a venue refused to remove glassware, he said: "Ulti-mately we could consider the issue of looking at the licence. If we have a venue where there has been a glassing incident, serious questions have to be asked." Bagnall stressed that glass bans would be expected, re-gardless of whether or not the venue had a history of violence or disorder. "As far as I'm concerned if it's a late-night venue serving alcohol after 11pm, even if it has the poshest punters in the world, I would expect it to have plastic and polycarbonates," he added. Bagnall made an exception for "traditional" pubs that may have extended their opening hours past 11pm. "For venues like that I don't think at the moment they need to [ban glass]." Bagnall said he expected problems to escalate after the smoking ban, with more people wanting to take glasses outside to smoke. Reading Pubwatch secretary Bill Donne said a blanket glass ban would be a "knee jerk reaction". "We are not against the principle of polycarbonates where it is appropriate and proportionate. What we are against is a blanket imposition on everyone." Are police calling for glass bans in your area? Call John Harrington on 01293 610481. Don't Hit good pubs - Rawlings British Beer & Pub Association director Martin Rawlings has called on Reading police to drop calls to introduce a glass ban in the town's pubs. Rawlings, the BBPA's director of pubs and leisure, spoke at the annual Reading Pubwatch conference and called for bad pubs and clubs to be targeted, instead of a blanket ban that would affect all operators. "The subject in the first instance is violence in pubs and bars, and the root cause is down to individuals," Rawlings told the conference. "There are a small number of people responsible. Why can't the police put them away? If they get away with it, it sends the message out that they can do what they like." "We are saying let's close down the bad pubs, but don't penalise the good pubs. Where it's appropriate then perhaps it should be a condition to have polycarbonate. "What is much more difficult to support is a blanket approach. It doesn't seem to me that we need to do that in every pub around here. We're not yobs and we don't want yobs in our pubs." Rawlings said a blanket ban would suggest to visitors that the Berkshire town has a big problem with glass-related violence, when that is not the case. How do we stop this happening again in our town? 15th July (First Published 8th February 2007) Report Courtesy of www.getreading.co.uk and the Evening Post 
BARS which open after 11pm should serve alcohol in plastic from 9pm, according to police. Plans to eliminate glass-related violence from the town were outlined in detail at the third annual Reading Pubwatch Conference yesterday. Town centre inspector Andy Bagnall told a packed crowd of licensees at Jongleurs in Friar Street that late-night venues would be expected to switch from glass to polycarbonate after 9pm. He also insisted bars that showed football or had a history of glassings should used polycarbonate full time. He said: “I’m sick to death of going to a scene of carnage which could have been prevented. It may not happen very often but when it does it has massive implications.” Referring to the ban on glass in Bournemouth and Cardiff, he said: “From customer surveys it seems they like it. “They feel safer and it is good for staff safety too.” But Pubwatch secretary Bill Donne said the decision on using polycarbonate should be in the hands of the licensee. As reported in Tuesday’s Evening Post, Pubwatch members are against a blanket ban and are pushing for an intelligent debate on the issue. Mr Donne said: “We believe it should be up to licensees to decide if they want to introduce polycarbonate. “You can’t expect people to pay more than £3 for a pint that is served in plastic.” Despite not agreeing on the issue of polycarbonate Mr Donne said that successful implementation of the Licensing Act in Reading was down to the partnership between Pubwatch and the police. He added: “A number of us don’t necessarily agree with the actions of the police in all cases but the police really do share the same objectives of making this a safe place. “Without their partnership we wouldn’t have been able to come on like we have.” Inspector Bagnall also spoke about how Reading town centre had become a much safer place in 2006. Read more on the Pubwatch conference in tomorrow’s Evening Post. First printed in: Reading Evening Post Plans to ban Glassware in Scotland after 9pm 28/06/2007 Report courtsey of the Morning Adverstiser  Written by: Joe Lutrario Inverness police have submitted proposals to the city's licensing board for a blanket ban on glass. Under the plans, polycarbonates and plastic bottles would be compulsory in all pubs and clubs in Inverness after 9pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. "We don't have a problem with glass-bans in individual premises, when they are considered necessary, but we think blanket bans are disproportionate and unfair."
"We don't have a problem with glass-bans in individual premises, when they are considered necessary, but we think blanket bans are disproportionate and unfair."Inverness & Highlands region of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) area manager Ramsay McGhee said: "We discussed plastic glass in Inverness premises after midnight, but this is the first we've heard about bans from 9pm. "We support the police in many ways. Health and safety is a big priority for us, but this is a step too far - it will affect every pub, bar and club in Inverness. "The police are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. "Glassings have been a problem in a few places, but the authorities should look at these cases individually." Chief Inspector Donald Henderson, of Inverness Police, said: "This is an initiative that will be put before the Inverness City Council licensing board in the next few weeks. "We consider that it would be a pro-active measure in reducing risks to customers and staff after a marked increase in glass-related attacks in Inverness." Scottish Beer & Pub Association chief executive Patrick Browne said: "We fought an identical battle in Glasgow last year. "Glasgow City Council caved before it went to court and had to pay us £19,000 in legal costs. According to the 1976 Scottish Licensing Act, blanket bans on glass are illegal. In our eyes, they would be unacceptable. "We don't have a problem with glass-bans in individual premises, when they are considered necessary, but we think blanket bans are disproportionate and unfair." The plans are likely to be heard by Inverness City Council in the next few weeks. Visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/plasticglass/ to sign the MA's anti glass ban petition. Cheltenham Licensees asked to ban glassware28/06/2007 Report courtsey of the Morning Adverstiser Licensees in Cheltenham are being asked to sign a code of practice that would see glass banned after 11pm. The code of practice has been devised by the Community Safety Partnership in a bid to promote best practice. While the document contains a number of sensible measures, such as banning two-for-one drinks promotions, the trade is concerned about the possibility of a back-door glass ban. JD Wetherspoon operations director Nathan Wall said: "Having polycarbonates may attract the very people you don't want - those who don't care what they drink out of"
The code advises pubs and clubs to "ensure that staff cease serving drinks in glass pint glasses after 23.00 hours, so that by midnight there shall be no glass pint glasses in the public area. These shall be substituted with polycarbonate/plastic glasses". JD Wetherspoon operations director Nathan Wall said its pub, the Moon Under the Water, would not be signing up. "It is becoming increasingly accepted as the norm by police and local authorities that polycarbonates are a good idea. If it was we would have already done it. "But having polycarbonates may attract the very people you don't want - those who don't care what they drink out of." He added: "I think licensees do feel pressured to sign up to these types of schemes." The Community Safety Partnership hopes all 800 licensed premises in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury will sign up to the 63-page document, which also covers best practice for off-licences, takeaways and taxis. "This represents a first step," said Cheltenham borough council licensing team leader Trevor Gladding. "Enforcement is a last resort, but if premises didn't sign up authorities would want to look at the reasons why." The Government made it clear in its National Alcohol Strategy that it is against blanket glass bans. Visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/plasticglass/ to sign the MA's anti-glass-ban petition. MP slates Glassware Ban15th July Report Courtesy of the Morning Adverstiser The Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, Martin Horwood, has slated attempts by police and council leaders to ban glass containers from pubs and clubs in the town. All 800 licensed premises in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are being asked to sign a code of practice saying pubs and clubs should "ensure that staff cease serving drinks in glass pint glasses after 23.00 hours, so that by midnight there will be no glass pint glasses in the public area". It adds: "These shall be substituted with polycarbonate/plastic glasses." But the Cheltenham MP hit out at the scheme, which is led by the Community Safety Partnership. Horwood, who has signed the Early Day Motion opposing blanket glass-bans, said: "I can think of many outlets in Che
22 Sep 2008 Report Courtesy of the Bexhill-on-Sea Observer ,First Published Date: 16 September 2008 SPECIAL glasses to reduce the number of glassing incidents and violent assaults are to be introduced in pubs and clubs across Eastbourne.
The polycarbonate glasses are being made available...
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14 Mar 2008 Report Courtesy of The Publican Britain's biggest nightclub operator Luminar says 87% of its venues now serve all drinks in polycarbonate containers. The move to plastics has halved insurance premiums as fewer claims are made, Luminar chief executive Steve Thomas told...
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18 Jan 2008 Report Courtesy of the Morning Advertiser The Government has re- iterated its opposition to blanket bans on glassware in pubs. The advice comes in a new guide for police and councils on drawing up local strategies for combating alcohol-related...
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