PUBGOERS across Colchester may soon be drinking out of plastic glasses.
Shatterproof glasses were used at Qube bar and Hudson Cellar, both owned by the Elysium Group, during an extended six month trial in the town.
Spokesman Shirin Nia said: “It has been a great success and we are pleased to continue using the polycarbonate glasses across our venues in order to further support a safer environment for customer’s enjoying Colchester nightlife.”
The trial was launched after a number of incidents involving people being injured or attacked with broken glass inside and outside various venues in the town.
Attacks included a champagne flute being slashed across a girl’s face in one bar and a champagne bottle smashed against a girl’s head in a nightclub.
Following a number of campaigns and calls for a change the Colchester Safety Partnership – now the Safer Colchester Project – got involved alongside Essex Police and Colchester Council.
The trial was initially conducted on the first floor of the Qube bar, and following success there, was extended to cover the Hudson Cellar venue.
Glasses were replaced with polycarbonate glasses supplied to the project at cost and paid for courtesy of a £2,000 grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex Nick Alston.
A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “During the trial period there were no breakages meaning customers and staff were safer and there were cost savings of around £200 per month as no drinkware needed replacing.
“Crucially an examination of the venues’ incident logs showed no incidents recorded as a result of smashed drinkware over the entire period.”
Tim Young, cabinet member for community safety, said: “ The results of this trial are all we could hope for.
“Customers and staff are safer, there were no accidents as a result of having to clear up broken glasses, there were significant cost savings for the venue operator as broken glasses didn’t have to replaced and many customers actually preferred the new drinkware. Everyone wins.”
The project will continue supplying the drinkware until the grant money runs out.
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