At a time when the UK Government is commissioning a new plastic pint glass design, it’s worth highlighting the brilliant simplicity of the standard pint glass.

The nonic (“no nick”) pint glass was designed in the 1960s, with a multi-purpose bulge just below the rim. The bulge:

• Adds strength to the glass.
• Allows the glass to be stacked without sticking together, and potentially shattering when pulled apart.
• Prevents the glass from slipping from the hand when condensation forms on the outside.

Importantly, the bulge added these benefits without detracting from the taste: something that the new design is unlikely to do.