Glasgow licensee stands up to proposed glass ban

A Glasgow licensee is calling on pubs to make a stand against the city's proposed glass ban.​ Ken Storrie, licensee at the Pot Still in Glasgow, has written to publicans encouraging them to contact their local councillors and MSPs to object to the rule imposed by the local Licensing Board. The policy is aimed at reducing violent attacks in the city.

The ban, which forces premises to serve drinks in plastic and toughened glasses, is already in place in city centre pubs and clubs with late licences.

Licensees have been warned they could face losing their licence if they defy the ban, due to be rolled out to all the city's pubs by next January.

Mr Storrie told The Publican he believes pubs are being unfairly targeted by the ban, claiming only a small fraction of glassing incidents happen in and around pubs.

In his letter, Mr Storrie added: "For our own individual business interests, and the greater good of the trade as a whole, we must stop this in its tracks now."

There will be limited exemptions available for some pubs or areas within pubs where food is being exclusively served.

Mr Storrie also highlighted the detrimental effect the ban would have on tourism. "What kind of message are we sending out with this ban?" he said.

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said he "absolutely" supported Mr Storrie's move. "The vast majority of pubs are not affected by trouble. There should be a more targeted approach, that is fair, reasonable and balanced," he said. "This way seems totally unreasonable and illogical."

But Gordon Macdiarmid, chairman of the Licensing Board who devised the policy, has branded its critics as "ignorant". Tourism would not be affected, he added.

Mr Macdiarmid said the first phase of the ban had been in place since January and any objections were "futile". He refuted claims that pubs were being targeted unfairly and warned: "If pubs aren't prepared to put their customers' safety first by using toughened glass, then they risk losing their licence."