Glasgow Licensing Board denies reports on plastic glasses
Glasgow licensing chiefs have hit back at reports that they want to rush through a plan to impose plastic glasses on pubs across the city.
The Glasgow Licensing Board insists that only nightclubs and venues with entertainment licenses are expected to sell drinks in plastic or toughened glass containers by the end of this year.
Reports in some Scottish newspapers suggested that all pubs would be excepted to fast-track the introduction of the safer glasses, in the wake of a spate of glassing attacks in the city, linked to problem drinking.
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has argued that such a timetable would place an unreasonable cost burden on Glasgow licensees.
Councillor Gordon Macdiarmid, the controversial convener of the licensing board, said: "The Board has never sought to have all licensed premises move to non-glass containers by the end of 2005.
"We targeted city centre night clubs only for that date, with a view to moving on to pubs and other similar premises at a later stage."
He added that "we have consistently stated that "fine dining" venues were not in our sights".
Paul Waterson, chief executive of the SLTA, said the board's approach would eventually see traditional glasses replaced in may pubs where such a move would be unnecessary.
He said: "We've always supported the introduction of plastic glasses in venues where it is appropriate. But there is a whole raft of pubs that don't fall into the 'fine dining' category that are nevertheless very well run and have no history of trouble.
"In pubs serving real ale for example, customers prefer a traditional glass. The message is coming across strongly to our members from their customers that this would not be a popular move."
A city council spokeswoman said that the aim is for 95 per cent of entertainment venues to introduce the safer glasses this year. Only then will the timetable for other pubs be considered, since "there's no point setting another target until we've met the first one."
