Search on for safer pub pint glass

The traditional pub pint glass is under threat and may be replaced by a range of polycarbonate alternatives.

The Design Council has been asked to create a new kind of glass by the Home Office in a bid to reduce the number of glass-related injuries from 87,000 a year, which costs the NHS, police and courts around £100m. The project is part of the Home Office's "Safe. Sensible. Social." campaign.

The Home Office said it had no plans to force pubs to use the new range of glassware, although it is highly likely they would come under pressure to do so by police and local councils.

Last year, the Government said it was against a blanket glass ban in response to a Morning Advertiser​ petition. It said it preferred a "risk based approach".

The appointed designers of the new glasses, Design Bridge, said the challenge was to reduce the "opportunity for the vessel to be used as a weapon" while also providing "opportunities for enhanced consumer appeal and brand image".

The new range is set to be unveiled in December with the aim of ensuring they are attractive to the industry, manufacturers and consumers.

It will look to develop more than one solution, which could be taken up by pubs and clubs.

"Innovative design has played an important role in driving down overall crime by a third since 1997 tackling a range of crimes including theft, fraud and burglary with innovative and practical solutions to real problems," said Home Office minister Alan Campbell.

"This project will see those same skills applied to the dangerous and costly issue of alcohol-related crime and I am confident that it will lead to similar successes."

Jeremy Myerson, Helen Hamlyn Professor of Design, Royal College of the Arts and Alliance member, added: "Alcohol related crime takes up valuable police and NHS resources and causes unnecessary misery to thousands of people. The outcomes of the Design Out Crime project have the potential to not only reduce alcohol related violence in the UK but to also help make our communities safer places."

However, the move has not been welcomed by licensees. Russell Camp of the Wheatsheaf in Thornbury said: "Why is it the whole country have to put up being told what to do just because of the small minority of violent thugs?

"Surely the Home Office needs to make the police use existing legislation and lock up the violent offenders?"

And David Pott of the Market Tavern in Faversham Kent added: "I have done over 10 years behind the bar including a very busy town centre pub for over a year. I have seen a number of fights but I have never seen a glass used as a weapon nor has anyone been cut by broken glass."