The project is being co-ordinated by the DUNCAN (Dundee Co-ordinated Anti-Crime Network) group, with funding from Dundee Community Safety Partnership and backed by Tayside Police.

Superintendent Colin MacKay, deputy divisional commander in Dundee, said, “As part of Operation Centresafe, which focuses on anti-social behaviour in the city centre, we found people are not going into town carrying a weapon, but once inside the establishment, if there are altercations, an individual may be tempted to use a weapon of convenience and — more often than not — we find that it is a glass, which can lead to serious injuries.

“Unlike normal glasses, which will shatter, these polycarbonate glasses do not break. They are strong, but light and will not do any damage.

“Anything that can reduce risk of injury is a positive thing and we are supportive of the taster scheme and hope venues will be encouraged to start using polycarbonate a lot more.”

DUNCAN co-ordinator Morag Douglas said, “Polycarbonate is a lot more common now. It is used at big events like T in the Park, precisely because it is safe.

“There used to be a bit of a stigma surrounding it and people would refuse to drink out of the plastic tumblers, but that has gone now. The new designs are very effective and people are getting used to them.

“Polycarbonate tumblers fits into the DUNCAN ethos. We want people in the city centre to be safe and we have been relaying this to the licensed trade at our regular meetings. We have 9000 of the tumblers in three different sizes to distribute and we hope to have them out in the next month or so.

“The response has been positive. Some venues are using the tumblers already and we hope this taster period, where we give all city centre venues a sample, will encourage more to use them all the time.”

Superintendent MacKay added, “There is a significant impact beyond just the incident itself. There are costs in terms of security at the venue, cost of having an ambulance come out, then on the NHS, in terms of A&E and perhaps even plastic surgery. If someone is apprehended, there is the judicial expense, too.

“Polycarbonate glasses may cost more, but we think they are good value for money. For one thing, the venue will not have to constantly replace broken glasses. The polycarbonate ones are strong and durable.

“They have evolved so much from the original plastic glasses, which were softer and not as strong. The new glasses look like the real thing and, although lighter when full, there is not much difference.

“We are fully aware that, particularly in this difficult economic climate, it is not feasible for a venue to simply replace all existing glasses with polycarbonate, but even a rolling programme of gradual change would make a difference. The more of these glasses we can get into the licensed trade, the better it will be.”