'Safer' pint glasses unveiled
The Government has unveiled two prototype "revolutionary" pint glasses — designed to be safer than traditional glass but more popular than plastic.
The two containers were produced by the Home Office-backed Design Out Crime programme and the Design Council.
The two designs are:
• Glass Plus — "Looks just like a regular pint glass but has a thin transparent coating of bio-resin on the inside. This makes it stronger and if the glass is broken it binds together dangerous shards — drastically reducing the likelihood of injury to customers and staff."
• Twin Wall — "A revolutionary design, made by bonding two ultra-thin layers of glass together in a concept similar to laminated car windscreens. It makes the pint glass extremely difficult to break, but in the event that it does smash, any dangerous shards would be safely held together by a layer of resin."
Designing the next generation British pint glass - the design story from Design Council on Vimeo.
Talks are already underway with "major pub chains" about trialing Glass Plus, which the Government hopes will be ready within 12 months.
The Thin Wall containers "will be further refined in consultation with manufacturers to investigate possible large scale production processes".
Both designs followed assessments and consultations with a range of experts including drinks producers and pub owners.
Despite its support for the containers, the Government has so far fallen short of calling for them to be compulsory in pubs.
Horrific injuries
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Glassing causes horrific injuries and has a lasting and devastating impact on victims and their families. I hope these designs will help bring an end to such attacks.
"While this is never going to be the only answer to preventing such violence, it is an important step forward which could also provide retailers and drinkers with a preferable alternative to plastic glasses.
"Tackling crime is not just about police action. Innovation and design also have a huge impact. Technologies like car immobilisers have helped cut vehicle crime by 57 per cent since 1997.
"I wish the Design and Technology Alliance and all our partners every success during the testing, and look forward to seeing the results."
The Government said the containers could help reduce the 87,000 glass attacks that happen each year.
• To see more pictures of the new glasses click here.
