Glassing attacks in Sheffield pubs & clubs have halved since plastic glasses were introduced in most city centre premises. Figures compiled by SY Police show between July/09-Jan/10 there were just 24 reported glassings compared to 41 over the same period 12m earlier. Plastic glasses were trialled in 6 city centre pubs & clubs in Feb/08 when SY Police bought £6,000 worth to be used on a busy student night. Sheffield's Drug & Alcohol Action Team, which delivers the national drug & alcohol strategies in the city, then bought another £57,000 worth of the glasses. Staff donated the plastic glasses to around 80 licensed premises across the city last July. The vessels look the same as glass but are tougher, stronger & are said to keep drinks colder for longer. They do not shatter like glass & tests have shown they can withstand the weight of a 4 tonne truck driving over them. The Drug and Alcohol Action Team paid for the glasses to help licensees meet the cost of replacing their stock.
