Anti-glass code for Cheltenham pubs

Licensees in Cheltenham are being asked to sign a code of practice that would see glass banned after 11pm. The code of practice has been devised by...

Licensees in Cheltenham are being asked to sign a code of practice that would see glass banned after 11pm.

The code of practice has been devised by the Community Safety Partnership in a bid to promote best practice.

While the document contains a number of sensible measures, such as banning two-for-one drinks promotions, the trade is concerned about the possibility of a back-door glass ban.

Having polycarbonates may attract the very people you don't want - those who don't care what they drink out ofJD Wetherspoon operations director Nathan Wall.

The code advises pubs and clubs to "ensure that staff cease serving drinks in glass pint glasses after 23.00 hours, so that by midnight there shall be no glass pint glasses in the public area. These shall be substituted with polycarbonate/plastic glasses".

JD Wetherspoon operations director Nathan Wall said its pub, the Moon Under the Water, would not be signing up. "It is becoming increasingly accepted as the norm by police and local authorities that polycarbonates are a good idea. If it was we would have already done it.

"But having polycarbonates may attract the very people you don't want - those who don't care what they drink out of."

He added: "I think licensees do feel pressured to sign up to these types of schemes."

The Community Safety Partnership hopes all 800 licensed premises in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury will sign up to the 63-page document, which also covers best practice for off-licences, takeaways and taxis.

"This represents a first step," said Cheltenham borough council licensing team leader Trevor Gladding.

"Enforcement is a last resort, but if premises didn't sign up authorities would want to look at the reasons why."

The Government made it clear in its National Alcohol Strategy that it is against blanket glass bans.

Visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/plasticglass/ to sign the

MA's anti-glass-ban petition.