My Wet Coast Life

In Europe, where it is common for 2 footy teams to clash and create an alcoholic fueled bedlam over who has the better team or a bar brawl spilling into the streets cause someone said something they shouldn't and a fight is now required to settle it, various impromptu weapons get thrown into the mix, such as bottles and glasses, and injuries are sure to ensue.

Well, the Brits have had enough, i guess bar brawls and injuries have gotten so bad, they have taken the next step at preventing it. We've all seen videos of footy matches gone bad and now the opposing fans need to resolve what their team could not. Now as a follow up to my interests in drinking technology and alternatives to drinking, they may have come up with the a solution to solve at least one issue common to any liquor serving establishment.

Did they invoke more education to reduce the violence? No, you can fix ignorant drunks. Did they add more security at the bars and pubs? No, just means the fight is going to go elsewhere. What they did do is look at where the injuries came about and how to prevent that. There are 87,000 alcohol-related glass attacks each year, with many resulting in hospital visit in Briton.

Did I just say glass? Of course! Everyone wants a drink, served in a glass, so i guess everyone gets given an impromptu weapon every time they order a pint at the same time (kinda like an indirect bonus).

Now how did the Brits solve it? They created a shatterproof pint glass of course! Now you're probably thinking "why didn't i think of that.." or it must already be in use but alas it may be in use in some pubs being industry leaders/stakeholders but not on a national scale until now. It is very difficult to change people's perspectives on fighting but if you remove the ability to use common, easily available objects as malicious weapons, that will at least eliminate one aspect of the situation turning bad.

Follow up:

So how did they do it? They have gone and released 2 designs for the shatterproof pint glass. The first one has a thin bio-resin coating on the inside of the glass to strengthens it and prevent it from creating the shards used in brawls. The other design employs car windshields design techniques and bonds two thin layers of glass together. Both are deemed difficult to break and keep the shards together if they do fracture (like a car windshield in an accident), thus preventing any sharp weapon from being created. You still have a somewhat blunt object but at least the slashing/cutting risk is eliminated.

The British plan on introducing the new glasses for use on a voluntary basis in pubs at first. If the tests show they are durable, cost-effective and safe, I can only assume it will be deployed across the country. Hopefully, this is the first step to reducing violent crimes spawned from a broken pint glass. It can still be used as a weapon but at least not produce shards or cutting instruments. But unfortunately, it still leaves the good ol'beer bottle as a handy weapon. Maybe they will ban bottles or apply this technology to the bottles themselves. I guess that will come down to cost in the end and if market viability would apply.

Alcohol Concern, a charity working to lessen alcohol abuse in Britain, chief executive Don Shenker said, "You are five times more likely to be involved in a violent incident if you are in or around a licensed bar. There is a clear correlation."

"Glassing causes horrific injuries and has a lasting and devastating impact on victims and their families," Home Secretary Alan Johnson said. "I hope these designs will help bring an end to such attacks."

Now what about plastic? It doesn't shatter or produce the sharp shards like glass does, why not use that? Preference. People like the feel of glass and in the end, glass prevailed. Maybe they are developing a plastic or polymer to mimic the look, weight and feel of glass with the benefits of plastic for being shatterproof or shatter resistant and easily recyclable, not the glass isn't recyclable too. I personally prefer my beer in a nice weighted pint glass over the red backyard BBQ plastic cups.

One side benefit with this new construction technique for pint glasses is the double walled pint glass design, works like a cooler to keep your drink insulated and thus remain cooler, longer. Maybe if this takes off in Europe, other countries will follow and in the end, reduce or eliminate these kinds of injuries and go back to fists to solve disputes, not weapons.

Another benefit is for the home consumer. How many times has a glass been knocked over and shattered all over the place and you are picking up tiny shards for weeks to come? Wouldn't it be nice to have it fall and shatter but remain intact? my son is almost 3 and i have a dog as well and i am always concerned when a glass breaks that i got all the pieces seeing my son plays on the floor with his toys and chances of either of them finding that missed piece is increased. The last thing i need is my son cutting his foot or taking the dog for an expensive trip to the vet all because i didn't get all the pieces...

I personally think anyone using a weapon in an assault manner, instead of defensive, is weak and feeble to resort to using them. They can run there mouth all they want, but when push comes to shove and it is fight or flight situation, they pull out a weapon even though they instigated (which proves they are not much of a man to hide behind a weapon). Are you so insecure in your own fighting skills that you can pick a fight but then not play fair? I have no remorse for those who pull out a weapon, only for it to be turned on themselves and they lose what they started. Just think, if no weapon was used in first place, they would never have been put into that situation. Plus weapons create a domino effect. First fight starts with a broken glass. Then the loser wants revenge (cause he's a sore loser) and brings a bat, then it recycles to a knife and then escalates to a gun until someone is severely injured or dead...

In the end, simple minds are easily amused and if you are one of those that go out looking for a brawl, sooner or later, the tide will turn on you and you will be on the loosing end and hopefully it will not cost your life but rather teach you a hard lesson in life, but yet again if they did die based on there ignorant actions, that would mean one least bully to deal with or worry about when you go out for a pint...IMO. If your a pub brawler, ask yourself what do you get out of this fight if you win? Bragging rights? better self esteem? And if now consider if you lose? BTW, you will lose eventually, maybe not today, maybe not next month but sooner or later you will encounter someone bigger or more skilled than you...

Hopefully this technology will pick up and the rest of the world will adopt it and allow the doctors to focus on other injuries than patching up the drunkards to allow them to repeat the stupendous, ignorant actions all over again.