I think part of the issue is that glass is an ideal material for inert storage and eminently recyclable, alternatives are either cans (i belive do contribute a noticeably metallic flavour) or plastic (still a petrochemical no matter what cardboard outer is used)

And you'll see even more flagrant political appointments to the Lords, like every party has done since Blair's lord reforms

I think a huge issue with revoking hereditary peerages without serious parliamentary reform is that it totally deincetivises debate in the upper house, you'll just have people voting on legislation along party lines like you do in the commons without proper scrutiny.