Three popular nightclubs in Apia do not support the banning of plastic cups, should the Government of Samoa go down that path.  

Speaking to the Sunday Samoan were the owner of Seana Bar Mailei Malo Eneliko Pau, manager of Club X Alofa Leota, and Bar Manager of Tenamo Iosefo Namulauulu. 

The three unanimously agreed that banning plastic cups would be a concern because it would create more problems when people are intoxicated inside their clubs and tend to be violent, especially when they use plastic cups for their customers. 

“Plastic cups are better because if you throw it at the other person, it doesn’t hurt, that’s why I stopped selling the big bottles beer because most people when they get angry, that’s the only thing they can hold and smash the one, the glass,” Mailei said. 

“So right now, I stopped the glass; I stopped the big bottles, but only get the small bottles. The Vailima and Taula they are smart, they have the small bottles and they are kind of thin, when you smash other people it doesn’t hurt, it’s just a scratch.” 

Iosefo said banning plastic cups would not only affect their business and operations because it would cost money to keep buying glass cups, that’s why they rely on plastic cups. 

“It is also for other customers’ safety not to use glass cups incase a possible brawl breaks out and a person smashes the cup or bottle to harm someone,” he added. 

Alofa expressed similar sentiments of protecting people who visit their club to have a good time, and that glass cups most often would break on the floor and may injure a person.  

“Plastic doesn’t crack and won’t hurt anyone,” she said. 

“I don’t think it’s good to ban plastic bottles and cups. I think plastic cups are better because if someone throws the plastic cups nothing happens, compared to using the glass cups.”