Glasgow decides against blanket glass ban
20 Jun 06
Licensing board backs down ahead of legal challenge
Glasgow's licensing board has decided against banning glasses and bottles from all the city's pubs and clubs.
After a meeting yesterday the board agreed to amend its proposed policy so that only those premies that open after midnight or have experienced problems with glass attacks in the past will have to use plastic or tempered glass.
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association had lodged a petition with the Court of Session challenging the blanket ban on glass, as this was felt to send out the wrong message about Glasgow.
Councillor Gordon Macdiarmid, convener of the licensing board, said that applying the new policy only to late-night operators and those with highest incidence of glassing attacks would remove 95% of premises from the direct requirements of the policy.
There were 59 violent incidents involving glass in Glasgow city centre and west end between November 2004 and November 2005.
Paul Waterson of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association said the licensing board's decision was a good move as a total glass ban would have been bad for the image and reputation of Glasgow.