FEARS plastic glasses in bars could make the beer taste different have been raised by landlords.

Despite a cautious welcome to the plans to bring in plastic glasses instead of glass in Scunthorpe's town centre bars, publicans are worried their punters may be put off by their tipple tasting a bit different.

Ian Charles, owner of the Wicked Bar in Scunthorpe High Street, said: "I feel plastic glasses and bottles create a wrong image for a bar, as well as make the beer taste different. You would not go into a restaurant and expect the wine to be served in a plastic glass."

He agreed plastic should be used in venues which have problems with violent customers, but added: "Using plastic does not get rid of the problem. Glassing is a social issue for the police and the courts to address. It does not get any more serious than putting a glass in someone's face."

And Craig Smith, manager of Der Schnapps Bar, Scunthorpe, said: "If they say we have to have them, then fair enough, it's certainly not something we'd go against.

"And I think they could be a good idea in relation to safety.

"But I think the problem is people won't like them, I've heard the taste is affected by plastic and I think other people will feel the same."

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