Inventor Targets Beer Coasters


South Coast Register:

Mike Ware enjoys socializing at hotels and drinking a cold beer – no doubt a joy shared by millions of thirsty patrons around the world.

Most beer drinkers would be familiar with disposable cardboard drink coasters. They have been used to soak up spillage and condensation for years.

“Unfortunately once the coaster is wet and left to dry it distorts out of shape and has to be thrown away,” Ware says. “Coasters are a billion dollar industry, we use 830,000 coasters a day in Australia.

“So I came up with a thin plastic frame to hold the coaster and make it ridged. I soaked it and watched it dry and it didn’t distort, which means they can be used over and over, saving money and the environment.

“The coaster just slides into the frame and that’s it. The little frame will take logo printing too, good for community messages like ‘Don’t drink and drive’ or ‘Quit smoking’. “It puts your message in the right place, in the patron’s face.”

Ware conceived the idea at the Archer Hotel about a year ago. After eight months of prototypes and testing, he now has a patent and plans to export this year.

Photo by South Coast Register.

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