Buckfast has been urged to change its packaging from glass to plastic following research showing violent offenders are more likely to use a bottle than a knife.

The call comes as a study reveals that of all the broken bottles in one Central Belt town, 54% had a Buckfast label.

As a result, Dr Andrew Fraser, head of healthcare at the Scottish Prison Service, has written to the Right Reverend Father Richard Rotter, of Buckfast Abbey, Devon, and Buckfast distributor, J Chandler & Co, to ask them to consider changing their packaging.

However, they have already intimated that they would not be willing to change to plastic.

A Buckfast spokesman said: "The people who commit crimes are the ones who have to take responsibility.

"It is completely wrong to blame the knife manufacturer if someone stabs someone. Why just attack Buckfast? Why not attack all alcohol sold in glass bottles?

"The governor of Barlinnie should be looking after prisoners, not asking people what they drink."

• Full story at the Glasgow Evening Times.

• Buckfast Tonic Wine is made by the Roman Catholic Community of Benedictine monks at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, and distributed by J. Chandler & Co (Buckfast) Ltd of Andover.

• Filed under Buckfast, Crime, Roman Catholic Church, Scottish Christian News Monitor.