In an online poll conducted at www.theherald.com.au yesterday, 78 per cent of readers said plastic cups should be mandatory in Newcastle pubs to reduce the risk of glassing attacks.

Readers who commented described glassing attacks as "pathetic" and "cowardly".

But Australian Hotels Association Hunter spokesman Bruce Woods said he was unsure whether switching to plastic would cut the number of attacks.

Proposals for the polycarbonate cups in the past have focused on late-trading or high-risk premises, which Mr Woods said were not involved in any of the weekend attacks.

"One of the incidents occurred outside a premises with a bottle, one was in a (registered) club and the other a (suburban) pub . . . not one of them was after midnight," Mr Woods said.

He said he would support individual pubs to make decisions about whether introducing shatter-proof cups was appropriate.

"We have a policy of local solutions for local problems," he said.

Many Newcastle inner-city pubs, such as the Crown and Anchor Hotel, King Street Hotel and Fanny's, already serve drinks in polycarbonate glasses.

The victim of Newcastle's latest glassing was attacked by a gang of up to 10 men, police said yesterday.

The attack occurred about 8pm on Sunday after a dispute over the use of a pool table at Newcastle Panthers in King Street.

Police believe a 35-year-old man from Birmingham Gardens had a schooner glass smashed into his face after being confronted and assaulted by the group of men.

A spokeswoman for Hunter New England Health said he was undergoing surgery for severe facial injuries in John Hunter Hospital yesterday.

Police are investigating the incident, but have yet to make an arrest.

The weekend attacks at Warners Bay and Hamilton both left the victims requiring hospital treatment.