NEWS

Pint glasses and bottles of wine in pubs could be things of the past if a police campaign to wipe out glass from the town centre wins support.

Both police and the ambulance service are so sick of dealing with cases of revellers being ‘glassed’ that they want to have the material banned from the town’s pubs altogether.

Glass attacks cost the NHS £1.6 billion last year and town centre inspector Andy Bagnall said the time has come to deal with the problem.

A proposal to introduce glasses made of polycarbonate – a type of heavy plastic – instead of glass is expected to be on the agenda at the next Reading Pubwatch meeting.

Insp Bagnall told the Evening Post: “Over the last six months I’ve had concerns because we seem to have an increase in glass incidents.

“The point has got to come where the availability of bottles and glasses in the night time economy should cease.

“Over the coming months Thames Valley Police will be attempting to bring to an end the use of glassware within the night time economy to bring it in line with other major venues in the UK such as Cardiff and Bournemouth.

“If you get hit on the head with polycarbonate you end up with a bruise instead of half your face hanging off.”

Insp Bagnall admitted some people may not be happy drinking from plastic glasses but insisted the ruling would be for everyone’s benefit.

“I want it brought in across the borough, not just the town centre, because there are a number of pubs that would benefit,” he said.

“We had an incident recently where a man needed 30 stitches in his face.

“He needed plastic surgeons and he will be scarred in the long term.

“If someone gets injured through glass then the individual could sue the venue but if you don’t serve drink in glass then you won’t have a glass problem.”

While he could not give an exact date, Insp Bagnall said he wanted to bring in the rule before anti-smoking laws come into force in July, when he anticipates a huge increase of people wanting to drink outside.

He added: “That could have a massive impact on violent crime.”

A Thai restaurant's potent homemade chilli sauce caused a chemical scare in central London, with police shutting streets and firefighters forced to smash down the door.

Streets were cordoned off outside the Thai Cottage restaurant in London's Soho theatre and nightlife district.

"It was initially thought to be a chemical problem. Somebody smelled what they thought was chemicals. So we went there, cordoned it off and assisted the fire brigade," a police spokesman said.

The ambulance service dispatched a Hazardous Area Response Team unit to Monday night's alarm.

Firefighters dressed in special suits broke down the doors and discovered the source of the smell: chef Chalemchai Tangjariyapoon's fiery signature nam prik pao chilli sauce.

The chef was baffled by the commotion. "I was making a spicy dip with extra-hot chillis that are deliberately burnt. To us, it smells like burnt chilli and it is slightly unusual," he told the Times newspaper.

"I can understand why people who weren't Thai would not know what it was. But it doesn't smell like chemicals."

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Industry figures and opposition MPs have lashed out at proposals to introduce a new tax on restaurant and take-away meals to boost the coffers of local authorities. The move to tax the food on your plate is part of Gordon Brown's money-spinning review of town hall finances.
Proposals have been submitted to a Treasury-commissioned review to add 10 per cent to the cost of every meal sold.
This would drive up the price of a meal out, a Sunday pub lunch or a takeaway.
The move has been condemned by celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson as "outrageous" while the industry called it "monstrous".
Tory local government spokesman Caroline Spelman warned that it would punish hard-working families for simply trying to treat themselves, and accused the "greedy Government" of wanting to cash in on a high street success story.
The proposal, which, if successful, would add between 6-10% surcharge on meals, netting an extra £1.5billion for the Chancellor's Treasury coffers each year, was submitted by a Labour-dominated group of local councils to Sir Michael Lyons' review of town hall finances. This new proposal follows controversial recommendations for a "bed tax" levy on hotels and B&Bs, which has been fiercely opposed by the industry.
Sir Michael, former chief executive of Birmingham City Council, was commissioned by the Chancellor to explore ways to raise extra cash amid fears that the next council tax revaluation will send bills soaring.
His final report is due to be published at the end of the year but, in his interim findings, Sir Michael said he was "exploring further" proposals for levying taxes on restaurants.
Submitted by the Association of Local Government, the proposal suggests a six per cent surcharge on sit-down meals in pubs and restaurants, which would raise £500million a year. A 10 per cent charge on takeaway food would raise a further £1billion.
Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, described the proposals for a plate tax as "beyond belief - I thought it was a spoof when I first heard about it". He added: "What are we going to be taxing next? Pavements? Windows?"

Ascot Wholesale put the final touches to a new Glassware and Bar Equipment Catalouge, which includes all of the latest ranges from leading manufacturers such as Arcoroc, Artis,Shott Ziezel and Hamilton Beach.To request a copy please call 01252 875555 and we will be happy to send one out to you.

In association GS Hotel's 10th Anniversary Ascot Wholesale sponcer a race day at Royal Windsor Racecourse.Above, the directors of Ascot Wholesale present the trophey of the GS Hotelsand Ascot Wholesale Selling Stakes.