A new strengthened beer glass appears to be the answer, according to health authorities who claim that roughly 87,000 "glass attacks" in Britain cost the nation an estimated 2.7 billion pounds ($4.3 billion) annually.

The traditional British pint glass has been redesigned so it is harder to smash, said Design Bridge, the company behind two prototypes. "And even if the new models are smashed, the dangerous shards of glass are held together by a layer of resin," according to a spokesperson.

Talks are currently under way with pub chains about trying out the glasses and a pilot scheme will be launched within a year as things now stand.--JACK CURTIN