PORT of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing's call to vendors to use plastic and paper cups to serve their drinks for the Carnival season was adhered to by some vendors, who say they preferred to be safe than sorry.

Speaking to the Express yesterday, several bar owners said they were aware of the possible ban on glass bottles for Carnival and purchased drinks in cans to be on the good side of the law. One barman said he knew of the ban but when it did not become law, he did not bother to purchase additional cups or canned drinks.

Kenson Williams, a bar owner along the parade route on Ariapita Avenue, Port of Spain, said some men accepted the drinks in cups but many refused.

Williams's brother in business, Clayton Moore, said sales were "alright" as people wanted to purchase canned beverages. Another barman who wished not to be identified said he purchased strictly canned drinks because "he listened before", meaning when the proposed ban was raised last November he bought canned drinks instead of bottles.

At a press conference on February 15 held at Port of Spain City Hall, Lee Sing appealed to vendors to pour the drinks in plastic, paper and styrofoam cups instead of selling the drinks in glass bottles.

"We don't need laws to do what is in our best interest," Lee Sing said.

Early November last year, Lee Sing called for the banning of glass bottles for the Carnival season in Port of Spain. However, this never materialised, as Lee Sing never got the backing to support his vision.

In a last-minute attempt to legalise the ban one day before Carnival was to be officially opened by the President on Carnival Friday, Lee Sing wrote to both Minister of National Security Brig John Sandy and Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston "Gypsy" Peters in the hope they would take the matter to Cabinet so it could be agreed upon and taken to President George Maxwell Richards.

This plan also did not materialise.