UK friends and the new Pint glass ...?

So, I saw an article about this in today's Boston Globe:

http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=66327&c=1

I find the whole concept mildly interesting, but one statistic regarding the motivation for the design of the new glass jumped out at me:

The article I originally read also recited an astronomical figure the nation's health system pays annually for these injuries.

So I have to ask ..., seriously? Do you seriously have all that many people getting angry enough to whack a pint glass on the corner of a bar and jam it into someone's face or something?

And I always thought you Brit's were so mild mannered and proper and such.

 

It's a pretty real phenomenon, though of course, bottles as well as glasses can be used. But do a few shifts in or near a central urban A&E department over a weekend, and odds on, you'll see a glassing or two. Can be pretty nasty, if they get an eye or hit something else vital.

 

I used to send out promotional stuff for Carlsberg Tetley and sometimes i could send boxes and boxes of glases to the same pubs though out the year so i am not surprise by the numbers.

 

I'm sure some get dropped too . I've worked in bars on and off for 20 years and thankfully never seen it happen, but unfortunately it does.

These glasses will never come in though, the breweries or the landlords will not cover the extra cost and as Holdfast points out, it can happen with a bottle as well.

 

I love this idea! I can't tell you how many random shards of glass I've gotten stabbed with while bartending.

 

Even if it happens very seldom - what's the harm in making glasses more safe? They can break by accident too.

 

Oh -- ? One stroke of a pen where legislation mandates this and it will happen.

I could see the government footing the bill for the first shipment to all pubs in order to turn-over existing stock. After that, the responsibility would fall to the pubs and brewers.

 

This is just the tip of the iceberg. In some towns they have set up there own first aid /safe centers to take the drunkards and slightly injured to.

Iv had personal experience of requesting an ambulance attending a head injury, and not being able to get one (for over an hour) because they were all out on a Friday night. The injured person was finally taken to A&E by my father in his car.

Its well known around here, you dont call for an Ambulance while the pubs are open, cause you wont get one. Its a scary thing, especially if you have a severe allergy to something.

Our culture has got too much into the 'have to be comostosed drunk to be able to be hip, trendy and fashionable' instead of dont you look a total prat head being that drunk.

Its not only the glasses that are dangerous, the ash trays get chucked as well. My brother nearly lost an eye when some swine chucked a heavy glass ash tray at a bloke who ducked, the thing hit my brother on the cheek and he had to have stitches.

 

I'm glad I've never bartended in a place like that.

 

A friend of mine was partying in a pub on Christmas Eve, and some drunk bastard who had been thrown out of the pub earlier barged in through the door and threw a pint glass right into the dancefloor. It hit my friend in the face and took one of his eyes out. He then slid into an alcoholic depression and committed suicide about 6 months later, although granted he already had problems, but this seriously exacerbated the situation.

I can't see this as being a bad idea, in the same situation a glass bottle hitting him about as hard would likely just have brained him and given him a nasty bruise, pint glasses break much more easily than bottles.

 

I totally agree it would be a good idea. But with the licensing trade under so much pressure of expense already, pubs are closing down every day, it could be a cost too much.
And what of the other glasses? Half pints, wine glasses, brandy balloons, etc etc. They would never do them all. If a weapon is want to be found it will be.
I do agree with the clearing up AJ, but I found the majority of accidental broken glasses to be wine ones.

 

^ I don't think they should necessarily legislate it, but if the costs can be kept to a reasonable level I should think there are plenty of publicans who have had to deal with glassings who would view this as a good idea.

Presumably if they are stronger there would be fewer general breakages as well, so perhaps it might even be beneficial financially.

 

I just have to say that I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. That's horrible!

I was just so surprised at the numbers of incidences recited in the article. I mean, it's certainly been known to happen here in the states -- with glasses and bottles -- but I don't believe it's with anything approaching that frequency.

Which leads me to the morbid thought that, maybe that's just because people here carry knives and guns and, therefore, don't have to resort to "improvised weapons." Wonderful.

 

I live near Nottingham and i can tell you people carrying guns and knives does not stop people fighting.

 

Then again as said earlier, a lot of the glasses are freebies from the brewers so they would have to concur and cover the costs also.

Sorry Pingfah, that was an horrendous thing to happen.

And TM, sadly I think you're right. Using a glass or bottle on impulse is unpremeditated ~ going out with a knife or a gun on you would suggest otherwise

 

I think drugs are also a factor my mother used to be on the committee for our local welfare and because she was the biggest she would throw out all the twats and a lot of them were high has a kite.

 

Obviously you've never been to an English football (soccer) game!

 

As long as you don't call it soccer you will be OK these days