Outrage!

[Fiona]

I have been saying for a while I am not happy with the authoritarian tendency in this country. Serious issues like surveillance and Asbo's worry me severely. Without wishing to sound flippant this is, for me, the final proof that these people are deranged.

Malt fans rebel over glass ban

Owner of world-renowned bar vows to lose his licence rather than serve his £250 nips in plastic cups

Lorna Martin, Scotland editor
Sunday June 4, 2006
The Observer

The most famous whisky bar in the world could be forced out of business under Glasgow's controversial plan to introduce a blanket ban on glass.

Ken Storrie, the owner of the internationally-renowned Pot Still, said he would rather lose his licence than serve his vast selection of malts, which cost up to £250 a nip, in plastic cups.

The ban, due to be introduced in all bars and pubs in the city from January, will also prevent people from buying bottles of wine or champagne.

Storrie said it would damage Glasgow's global image and hit tourism when it is trying to shed the violent image highlighted in the book No Mean City.

He is backed by Scotland's tourist board and Edinburgh City Council, while the Scottish Beer and Pub Association has asked the Court of Session for a judicial review of the Glasgow Licensing Board's decision to introduce the ban.

But Councillor Gordon Macdiarmid, the board's convener, said he was not worried by the legal challenge, adding: 'It is astonishing that anyone in the 21st century should seek to place the protection of glass receptacles ahead of the safety of their patrons.'

Macdiarmid, who has campaigned for years to make Glasgow the first 'glass-free' city in the world, said he was acting on evidence, as well as demands from parents of 'glassing' victims, surgeons and the police.

But Storrie dismissed the suggestion that he was against efforts to tackle violence: 'All licensees want to address violence and reduce injuries. But this policy is totally ill-thought out and over the top.'

His range of almost 500 malts is now served in specially-designed Glencairn crystal glasses. 'They have won a Queen's Award. Yet here in the home of whisky, we're supposed to start serving it in plastic cups. It is utterly ridiculous.'

His refusal to sign up to the scheme means he will initially lose his regular extended opening hours. A continued refusal to comply or seek an exemption could cost him his licence.

A VisitScotland spokesperson said: 'The ban could present a message to visitors that Glasgow is unsafe.' Councillor Phil Attridge, convener of the Edinburgh licensing board, said a city-wide ban 'would be an over-reaction'.

The application for a judicial review is expected to be heard later this month.

[Ashen]

Ok I am obviously stupid but I really fail to see what is it that they hope to accomplish with this - you want to hurt someone or are violent you'll find something.

[mr_sir]

That is ridiculous. Surely with all the knife crimes happening these days they should be more worried about those than glass etc. in bars. If someone was prepared to use a glass or bottle as a weapon then what is to stop them from just using anything they find laying around? I'm sure they could do serious damage with a key in their pocket if they wanted to hurt someone in a fight. This country seems so caught up in policing everything anyone does that I'm sure its just so the government can hide their inadequacies when it comes to the real problems such as a lack of police, cuts in police funding, the prison service falling apart, schools not being given enough funds to educate kids properly and so on.

[Dragon Reborn]

what country are you talking about?

though, i can understand the thing about not selling world-famous "malts?" in plastic cups. Some bars just have years and years of pride behind them (expecally in europe) and just wont serve world renown alchol in plastic cups.

You know this would be easer is people auctually put their "loction" in the location area!

[mr_sir]

Its the UK as the article is about Glasgow, Scotland.

[Greg.]

People get hit with chairs, let's ban chairs from pubs!

The sheer amount of Health and Safety stuff that needs to get filled out over nothing, yet all these foreign criminals somehow get released, and sex offenders working in schools, leads me to believe, like Fiona that the government hasn't got its priorities straight.

[Dragon Reborn]

dont forget pool sticks!
eventually bars will be come reduced to places everyone has to sit on the padded floor and the bar is now a small hole in the wall where you whisper the drink you want. the drinks are served in small padded sippy cups. Also you cant talk to anyone because you might hurt someones feelings.

mabie there'll be a drive through so you can just get your alchol and drink it at home.

[Fiona]

@ Dragon Reborn. Sorry about that. Most people who have been around a wee while have noticed the very subtle indications that I am Scottish

Welcome to SYM, if I haven't said so before

[dragon wench]

This is right up there with Blair trying to ban hoodies... Okay, I know this is Glasgow specific, but really!
I do not think this will solve anything; IMO its just a sap to the social control freaks.

Also... it is truly appalling to the aesthetic sensibilities to even imagine drinking a fine malt from plastic... YUCK!!!
Whomever thought of this brainchild should be excommunicated to some place that has no appreciation of good alcohol.

[Phreddie]

Alcohol can kill too, should we ban alcoholic beverages from bars, pubs, and taverns?

[Ravager]

They did ban hoodies around here, you know...
From what I remember there were police messages up telling people not to wear hoodies or caps in shops so they could be identified by CCTV cameras.

Umm, maybe because I don't drink alcohol I wonder what the difference between drinking something from glass or plastic is. Sure, it looks nicer and all from a glass than a plastic cup. But, if everyone has to drink from plastic cups in Glasgow, it's not like people will go elsewhere to drink from glasses (well, unless they go out of town).

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Ravager

They did ban hoodies around here, you know...
From what I remember there were police messages up telling people not to wear hoodies or caps in shops so they could be identified by CCTV cameras.

Umm, maybe because I don't drink alcohol I wonder what the difference between drinking something from glass or plastic is. Sure, it looks nicer and all from a glass than a plastic cup. But, if everyone has to drink from plastic cups in Glasgow, it's not like people will go elsewhere to drink from glasses (well, unless they go out of town).

Rav, believe me it matters.

They are stupid though. They have banned smoking in pubs, but they haven't banned matches.........

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Rav, believe me it matters.

They are stupid though. They have banned smoking in pubs, but they haven't banned matches.........

Yes Rav, it *does* matter. It is not just the aesthetic, plastic imparts a taste to alcohol.. *shudder*

*imagines Fiona with her matchbook flambé kit torching her malt and being hauled away on charges of subversive terrorist activities*

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by dragon wench

Yes Rav, it *does* matter. It is not just the aesthetic, plastic imparts a taste to alcohol.. *shudder*

*imagines Fiona with her matchbook flambé kit torching her malt and being hauled away on charges of subversive terrorist activities*

I wouldn't torch the malt, DW. How could you think that? I just think putting up the price of plastic glasses might be effective. Drink the drink then torch the glass. Simple fun for all the company

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I wouldn't torch the malt, DW. How could you think that? I just think putting up the price of plastic glasses might be effective. Drink the drink then torch the glass. Simple fun for all the company

Well, come to think of it, I couldn't really see you wasting fine malt like that, but it was still an entertaining image

LMAO! Hmm... maybe you could even start a brand new trend, Plastic Glass Sculpture. The publicans could put their customers' creative efforts on display.. contests could even be held...