The Morning Advertiser's campaign against blanket glass-bans in pubs is entering a new phase with a fresh drive to get MPs involved.
MPs are being invited to sign an Early Day Motion (EDM), drafted with help from the Morning Advertiser, opposing attempts by police across the country to force pubs to replace glasses with polycarbonate containers.
The EDM, launched today, stresses the impact that
blanket glass bans will have on the pub trade and highlights how it will mar the drinking experience.
We are calling for a sensible approach rather than a blanket ban MP John Grogan.
MP John Grogan, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, said: "We are calling for a sensible approach rather than a blanket ban. The MPs I have spoken to are astonished that glasses could be banned in well-managed licensed premises.
"Banning glass is the wrong way to attract a wide and diverse set of customers."
Grogan added that police would also now be invited to attend a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group before the summer recess to discuss the issue.
The tabling of the EDM comes after Chris Allison, the Association of Chief Police Officers' (Acpo) licensing spokesman, stressed his support for polycarbonates during a meeting last week with senior trade figures called by the Bar Entertainment & Dance Association (BEDA).
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) operations director Nathan Wall, who attended the BEDA meeting, alongside Chief Inspector Adrian Studd of Acpo's clubs and vice unit, said: "The meeting was constructive, with a frank exchange of views. There's a philosophical difference between us and the police.
"Police are of the view that one glass injury is one too many, but ultimately
we have to consider that [by banning glass] we are punishing the vast majority of people.
"Chris Allison's view was that if customers are presented with polycarbonates, they will be happy with them. Everything we've seen suggests that the general public hates that idea.
"Unless we are able to produce concrete evidence around that area, it's going to be difficult."
Allison said: "It was an open and constructive meeting and these discussions are ongoing."
Pressure to ban glass increased in northern England this week, with news that some licensing authorities in the region are backing an anti-glass campaign run by Newcastle-based newspaper the Sunday Sun.
The MA's on-line petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair opposing blanket glass bans continues to gather pace, with more than 1,500 people now signed up.
To sign the petition visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/plasticglass and make sure you forward the link to as many people as possible to gain further support.