Safer 'revolutionary' new pint glasses unveiled
Two types of safer "revolutionary" new pint glasses have been unveiled by the government today, aiming to give pubs a "preferable alternative" to polycarbonates.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson presented the new prototypes - designed not to shatter - which it is hoped will cut down on injuries caused by glass attacks.
According to the Home Office, 87,000 "violent incidents involving glass" take place each year.
The two designs - which are expected to be finalised in the next 12 months and are the first major advance in glassware since the 1960s - are:
- Glass Plus - which looks just like a regular pint glass, but has a thin transparent coating of bio-resin on the inside, making it stronger.
- Twin Wall - a "revolutionary" design, made by bonding two ultra-thin layers of glass together in a concept similar to laminated car windscreens, making the glass extremely difficult to break.
A Home Office spokesman said the cost to pubs for the Glass Plus prodcut would be "minimal" and should be the same as normal pint glass to make.
On the Twin Wall design he said: "This is a prototype and, while it has shown enough promise to go forward for more stringent testing and trialling, it is too early to put a cost per glass. If successful, the new glass could be trialled in pubs within 12 months."
It remains whether the glasses will eventually become mandatory for pubs.
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."
The Design Council, which produced the glasses, backed by the Home Office, is already in talks with "major pub chains" about trialling the glasses and "large scale production" of the glasses is expected.
David Helps, Director of 3D and Innovation, Design Bridge, said: "The beauty of these glasses is that they keep everything British drinkers love about their pint; they look good, work better and are safer in front and behind the bar."
Development of the prototypes and further safety testing under laboratory conditions will now take place before the glasses are tested in pubs and clubs.
Click here for more images of the glasses and the design process.
