Pictured, left to right: Chris Ward, Marketing Director at Arc International, Mike Olley from Pub Watch and Broad Street BID, Guy Lipscome from N.A.B.B., Kevin Roberts of Red Rob Catering Supplies, Chris Neville Head of Licensing at Birmingham City Council

Ten pence from every sale of new extra strong pint beer glasses is being donated to charity - The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (N.A.B.B.).

Red Rob Catering Supplies today launched the Ultimate Pint - a brand new, extra strong pint glass into the licensed trade in and around Birmingham and the West Midlands.  Over the next few months they will be donating 10pence from the sale of every glass to N.A.B.B., an organization of volunteers who provide an out-of-hours urgent blood delivery service to hospitals across much of the UK.

The Ultimate Pint is five times stronger than existing toughened pint glasses and when the glass is violently hit against another surface the whole glass - including the base - it shatters like a windscreen and reduces the opportunity for glass to be used as a weapon to cause injury.

Kevin Roberts of Red Rob Catering Supplies said:

"We are excited about the potential injury-saving properties of this new product.  The Ultimate Pint will help reduce the number of 'glassings' that take place in the UK every year, and, as a direct result of its unique properties it will also help reduce the number of bar staff accidents that happen when handling broken glass, again because it shatters into small pieces.

"In launching the Ultimate Pint into the licensed trade around Birmingham, we are teaming up with the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes to highlight the great work that their volunteer members do in carrying urgently needed medical items such as blood, biological samples, medical notes, x-rays and scans."

Tim Goodman from The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes said:

"We are delighted to be involved with this innovative product.  Anything that lessens the opportunity for people to be hurt and injured in such an unpleasant and unnecessary way gets the backing of our membership."

Commenting on the charity donation to N.A.B.B, Suzanne Walsh, Lead Donor Relations Manager for NHS Blood and Transplant said:

"NHS Blood and Transport supports the launch of the Ultimate Pint, particularly for its injury-preventing properties.  We have embarked on a Pint for a Pint campaign with Red Rob Catering Supplies by asking members of the public to pledge to give another type of Ultimate Pint - a pint of blood.

"Blood is required every day by patients in hospitals across the West Midlands and, by giving blood, that one pint can go on to save or improve the lives of up to three adults or seven newborn babies.

"To pledge the Ultimate Pint simply call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk to enrol."

The Ultimate Pint glass has been developed as a direct result of an ongoing UK Government initiative which in 2009 challenged the glass manufacturing community to design a product that would help make drinking venues a safer environment through the reduction of violent injuries caused by glass.  Arc International was the only glass manufacturer to be involved in this initiative from the beginning.

Chris Ward, Marketing Director at Arc International said:

"By combining both design and the technology processes we have created a glass profile that is safer and stronger for use in busy public environments.  Whereas normal glass either breaks into large shards or the base of the glass remains intact, thus creating a weapon that can be used repeatedly."

Although alcohol related violence has fallen by 33% since 1997, 87,000 violent incidents involving glassware occur each year that can leave victims badly injured as well as costing the NHS an estimated £2.7bn.

Mike Olley from Pub Watch and Broad Street BID said:

"40% of bar staff sustain injury of some sort during their work and we at Pub Watch welcome products such as the Ultimate Pint glass which can help our members and their staff work in a safer environment.

"The Ultimate Pint glass is specifically designed to produce a safer and stronger tumbler that promotes reverse breakage - when smashed against a hard object the glass shatters from the base up - leaving a would-be antagonist holding nothing!"

The Ultimate Pint is designed to have a uniform thickness and any angles have been removed and replaced with soft curves.  This means that any violent shock that is created when the glass is hit against another surface can travel through the glass with little resistance.  This is different from most current Fully Toughened pint glasses as they often have sharp angels where the base meets the wall.

Chris Neville Head of Licensing at Birmingham City Council said:

"I was pleased to be invited to today's product launch.  Any product that creates a safer drinking environment in licensed premises is to be welcomed.  I congratulate Arc International for the work that it has put into developing the Ultimate Pint".