Autoglide maybe it is more of a pain for air crew and cabin crew as they generally don't get the chance to get off the plane until end of shift and so don't get the chance to go to the shop, for instance you try getting off a ryanair flight at say LGW into the shops airside and back to the aircraft in a 30min turn around. Ok they have food etc on board but that is for the pax.
Phil it is stupid if employees airside cant be trusted to not bring in dangerous chemicals how the hell can you trust them with firearms and remember there is already the basic ingredients for a bomb already airside at most airports. The argument is floored either we go back to a sensible way of working or we let terrorists win. The world is not black and white like like these stupid rules are trying to make it.