Glass ban threat recedes
Trade leaders believe police may have softened their stance on the blanket use of plastic glasses in town and city-centre pubs.
It follows clear guidelines on polycarbonate containers issued in the Government's National Alcohol Strategy and reinforced last month by Home Office minister Vernon Coaker.
The strategy document clearly rules out blanket glass bans in favour of a selective approach to individual problem premises. Coaker told the Morning Advertiser last month that blanket bans were not the way forward. And trade groups believe the message may have been received by police chiefs who seem to be adopting a softer approach to the issue.
British Beer & Pub Asso-
ciation communications director Mark Hastings said: "The alcohol strategy comments by ministers and the trade's strong campaign is clearly putting pressure on police to abandon blanket policies and follow a more sensible, targeted approach.
"But we will continue to maintain both vigilance and pressure on what is a vital issue for the trade."
BII chief executive John McNamara said policy now clearly favoured risk assessment, due diligence and a proportionate action response. "The Home Office has stated it is against blanket bans, which seems to have quietened things as far as the police are concerned.
"We have always believed the use of plastic glasses should be left to individual premises and any decision should be appropriate to its circumstances," he said.
Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish said there was never any justification for calls for blanket bans.
"We believe decisions should be made after a risk assessment carried out on a location basis," he said.
A Morning Advertiser petition opposing plastic glass bans has been signed by more than 2,600 people.
plastic gets the smoke-free message across
Polycarbonate glasses featuring the no-smoking message are being sent to pubs in Northamptonshire to remind punters not to puff indoors.
East Northamptonshire Council is distributing 1,000 containers to pubs in the council region.
A council spokeswoman said use of polycarbonates is not compulsory. However, all members of Rushden Pubwatch have agreed to use the containers.
Jean Rowe, licensee of the Rose & Crown pub in Rushden, said: "I don't have a garden or yard for smokers so they have to go outside in the street to smoke. They like these new poly glasses and ask for them when they come in. They are distinctive with the smoke-free message on them and are better than the ones we used to use.
"We don't let anyone take glasses outside. If we see anyone with a glass outside we swap it straight away for a poly glass."
Another Rushden host, James Kirk of the Wheatsheaf, said: "These are really good quality and we will use them when drinks are to be taken outside. We will be buying more."
