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.