New Pint Glass Design

Last summer we reported on the home office commissioning a new design of plastic pint glasses for pubs and bars. In an effort to reduce the 87,000 attacks or “glassings” each year, a new design of pint glass is being introduced by the government. This supposedly safer glass will hopefully not only reduce injuries but also the cost to the NHS, which spends £2.7bn a year on alcohol related crime.

Launched by the Home Office’s Design & Technology Alliance and involving the Design Council, two new beer glasses have been revealed. These prototype designs are intended to tackle crime and reduced the amount of glass-related injuries, whilst still appealing to drinkers.

David Kester, of the Design Council says…

The British love their pints of beer, we wouldn’t want to take someone’s enjoyment and pleasure away. This is not a silver bullet. It is one idea that can make a significant difference. We hope to save lives and reduce suffering.”

Glass Plus

Matt Cotterill, creative director of Design Bridge, which is behind the new glasses, says a clear plastic coating is the secret of ‘Glass Plus’.

To prevent the glass breaking into shards when smashed, a bio-resin coating is put inside the glass. Drinkers may not even notice the different when using the new glass as it can be used to treat existing pint glasses.

Twin Wall

The ‘Twin Wall’ glass draws some inspiration from car windscreens. The laminated glass is comprised
of two thin layers of glass inside each other, which are then resin bonded together. As with the Glass Plus design, this stops the glass shattering into pieces.

Designers say the glass is still being improved on, as it looks and feels significantly thicker than a traditional pint glass. However, this new design makes beer easier to pour.

Despite the obvious positive impacts of these new style beer glasses, pubs and breweries are concerned by the cost of replacing their beer glasses. The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) are reserving judgement until more details emerge but for an industry which continues to struggle in the current economic climate, they are understandably worried about the extra burden.

Louise Ashworth, a spokeswoman for Camra said the following…

Who will pay for these additional glasses? Fifty-two pubs are closing down each week because of administrative burdens, high taxes and the smoking ban. Pubs are suffering and to ask them to cough up for supposedly improved glassware, it is not good timing.”

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Photograph by Mark Wesley