Bar-Me goes plastic after glass assault

A Laurel pub in Milton Keynes will become a glass-free zone within two months.

Bar-Me is going all-plastic following a campaign by the family of doorman Blake Golding, who was scarred for life after being attacked with a glass last Christmas.

More than 10,000 people have signed the family's petition, urging late-night venues to switch to plastic glasses. They will take it to Downing Street when 250,000 have signed up.

Golding lost four pints of blood and needed 40 stitches when he was attacked while trying to help a female colleague.

Laurel spokesman Martin Duckworth said: 'The previous manager at Bar-Me introduced plastic glasses 18 months ago.

'The decision to attempt to introduce plastic bottles is purely a local one - obviously there are cost implications and many products aren't available in plastic. Toughened glass has been introduced across the Yates and Slug & Lettuce estates and I think this is the way forward.'

Support for the campaign has spread to Norwich, where doorstaff in the city back the drive.

Staff at Mercy in Prince of Wales Road will be out on Bonfire Night drumming up support for the campaign.

The Goldings hope the petition will lead to a law change.

Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations chief executive Tony Payne said: 'Many pubs don't have problems like this and smaller traders don't have the money to make these changes.'