THE i360 must continue to serve alcohol in plastic glasses after councillors agreed with police that to allow the real thing in the pod would be too dangerous.

Applying for the rule to be relaxed, i360 boss Steve Bax said he was giving his customers “not a nice experience” by using polycarbonate champagne flutes to serve £10 drinks.

He said after 18 months of operation the attraction on Brighton seafront had experienced no antisocial behaviour and that security was his team’s top priority.

But councillors Jackie O’Quinn, Lynda Hyde and Julie Cattell, responding to the application, told him they shared the police’s concerns and refused the request.

Sussex Police’s statement by licensing officer Hannah Staplehurst said: “Glasses could potentially be used as a weapon inside the pod, as a wide variety of people use or have access to the pod.”

Ms Staplehurst said the attraction had not carried out a risk assessment or identified health and safety concerns in the event of such an attack.

The attraction will also remain forbidden from selling Brighton Gin or Nyetimber sparkling wine from Sussex vineyards to tourists hoping to enjoy a drink at home.

At the licensing meeting last Wednesday Mr Bax said customers who had enjoyed a “premium product” from Sussex during their experience often asked to buy a bottle to take home.

Under the terms of the venue’s alcohol licence off-sales are prohibited.

That prohibition will remain in place after the panel ruled: “The panel have heard the applicant’s submissions about the high-quality product but do not believe that the policy presumption of refusal has been rebutted or that there are exceptional circumstances.

“Allowing this variation would mean further off sales of alcohol in an already challenging and saturated area.”

But the vertical pier can take one crumb of comfort.

The i360 team also requested permission to serve drinks at a bar to customers waiting for a table in the seafront restaurant.

The panel did not want to grant a licence which would allow the venue to become a seafront bar.

But it has now allowed up to ten customers to have a drink at a bar while they wait.

The i360 was asked for a comment but had not responded by the time we went to press.