Glasses could be banned in Gloucester pubs during the Rugby World Cup in 2015

Comments (2)

WORLD Cup rugby will bring more than just a carnival atmosphere to Gloucester next year as temporary rules banning glasses in pubs could also be enforced.

Although most clubs and late night venues have adopted a safety glass policy out of choice, some bars and pubs are reluctant to go down the polycarbonate route.

But venues may have their hands forced, with temporary restrictions on alcohol being served in glass during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Wetherspoon’s pub The Water Poet is one of the few venues to serve drinks in glass at peak times in Eastgate Street. But that will change when matches get under way.

A spokesman said: “The pub serves all drinks in glass and it is not something that we currently propose to change, as we haven’t had any issues.

“If we were asked to amend that policy, we would be happy to review the situation and change if necessary. When the Rugby World Cup is being staged, all venues in the street have agreed to use polycarbonate glasses.”

Kingsholm will host four World Cup matches, with fans from Scotland, Argentina, Georgia, Japan and the USA expected to pour into the city.

Some premises in the city already have a condition attached to a licence requiring use of plastic glasses at all times. Others require drinks to be served in plastic after certain hours or during events.

To introduce a blanket policy for Gloucester, the city council would need to consider changing its licensing policy. The issue has regularly featured in discussions by the former Nightsafe group in Gloucester, now CitySafe.

Deputy leader of the city council Jennie Dallimore, a CitySafe board member, has called for a review on the terms of late night licences, making safety glass compulsory.

On Facebook, Brett Cowley said: “It’s the idiot behind the glass that’s the problem.”

Margaret Mayell said: “I’m utterly amazed to hear they aren’t in use anyway.”

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/28822882

Glasses could be banned in Gloucester pubs during the Rugby World Cup in 2015