Glasgow’s pubs escape 'glass ban'

Glasgow’s 700-plus publicans no longer face a glass ban, after the city’s licensing board abandoned controversial plans to enforce one from next year.

The proposals would have meant that pubs would only be able to serve drinks in toughened glass or plastic bottles from the end of January 2007.

However, revisions put forward in June will mean restrictions will only apply after midnight and only for the sale of alcohol. 

Glasgow’s licensing board had planned to ban glass from the city’s 713 licensed premises to cut the incidence of “glassings”.

As a result of the change, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has now ended its attempts to force a judicial review of the proposal.

Patrick Browne, SBPA chief executive, said: “The industry remains in full support of policies designed to target and tackle the violent thugs who use glass as a weapon but we believe that the use of plastic bottles or toughened glass is best determined on a premises by premises basis where problems exist.”

Read SBPA response to December policy agreement here >>

Glasgow licensing committee website >>

Scottish Executive declines to comment on smoking shelters >>

Underage drinkers to target Fife pubs in sting operations >>

By Chris Druce

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