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Mine's a 568.3ml
Europe is calling time on Britain's pints
People referring to a slippery slope are often viewed as paranoid and greeted with howls of derision. Yet this is exactly what's going on with the (other) EU's enforced metrification. It's true what they say about the European Union - give them an inch and they'll take a mile... and a pint!
The European Commission, effectively the executive branch of the European Union, has ordered the British government to name the date for completing the abolition of pints, miles and acres. Leaving aside the fact that nobody but the British people should be ordering the British government to do anything, this is still a worrying development.
Follow up:
In 2001 Steven Thoburn, the Metric Martyr, (may he res in peace) lost a court battle to be allowed to continue labelling his bananas, at his market stall, in pounds and ounces. Now seriously, what do Mr Thoburn's bananas
matter to some Eurocrat in Brussels who may never set foot inside the UK?
The Observer thinks legions of British drinkers will soon be downing 568ml of lager. Can you picture the Harp adverts rewritten? "568 millilitres of Harp" just will never be as catchy as "Pinta Harp? Pinta Harp?" will it?
I however am worried about something much more sinister; the potential for the sale of beer and cider to be sold in quantities of 500ml rather than a pint. It'd probably not look much different and it's a much easier number to work with. You'd hardly put it past the marketing folk to decide "Half a Harp?" (litre of) could catch on better - and do you think they'll reduce the price accordingly? Ha!
I'll not even start on the thought of road signs and speed limits in km! In Canada the top speed's 100km/h - only 63 mph. Who wants to bet on Britain following suit should we adopt km?
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15 comments
Forced metrification, however, is one battle that the EU has no chance of winning. They should instead stand back and slowly where it is important( eg in business or tourism) people will gradually move over to the new system.
I buy beer in Firkins and Kilderkins (9 and 18 gallons respectively) but if I want, I can ask for 40.90 or 81.8 LITRE containers, the point being, the containers are the same size, the name is the same, but the TAXMAN gets paid for litres, not gallons. I am licensed to sell beer in third, half or full pints, or multiples therof. I will continue to sell beer in these measurements AS LONG AS MY PUNTERS WISH IT SO.
Many of the Brussels Bearocrats are BRITISH!!!
It is not a question of THEM versus US (whomsoever US may be )
Chill out a bit, and I'll see ya for a HALF LITRE down the CROWN!!!! ( or the 0.25 % of a Pound)
I've probably done my sums wrong.
I know, traitors all!
"It is not a question of THEM versus US (whomsoever US may be )"
Not sure on that one. When the French start measuring distance in miles I might believe you
"If it is clearly identified as BOTH on glassware, bar tariffs, etc. any law will be adhered to, and anyone who wants a PINT can still have a PINT!"
I could be wrong but I thought I remembered reading a story ages ago about butchers or greengrocers not being allowed to use both quantities on their labels.
However, pints are still pints. And, aprt from the shocking price, I hope and expect they remain so.
The imperial system is much harder to calculate in, and leads to all kinds of magic number which as a computer scientist you ought to be glad to see the back of.
I love magic numbers!! Separates the men from the boys
The thing is you don't need o calculate in imperial measures, because their use is currently more cultural than anything. Aside from feet and inches, stone and pounds - it's rare you's use to quantities from the same system - eg how often do you talk about 984 miles and 324 yards? Nah, it's 984.xx miles isn't it? That's not hard to calculate.
And I was talking about conversion and derived units - erg, dyn etc.
Nice for the museum, a pain elsewhere.
I always love a bit of flattery, thank you. Hope your experience of Norn Iron wasn't an altogether negative one
My son attends a grammar school yet has no idea what a mile is never mind a pint (yet). They're units of measurement. Why is the foreigner always to blame.
My son attends a grammar school yet has no idea what a mile is never mind a pint (yet). They're units of measurement. Why is the foreigner always to blame.
It's also useful to remember that European stuff is not imposed on us. We take a full part in those decisions, have done since the days of Margaret Thatcher. And we have the power to veto any European decision. Ms Thatcher didn't veto anything, so why should Peter Mandelson?
"When Parliament adopted the EC Act in 1972, it in effect agreed to the principle of metrification along with it."
In 1994, under John Major, a parliamentary committee endorsed a ministerial measure, finally giving legal teeth to the changeover commitment.
So it's not the EU bureaucrats' fault after all, it's the fault of the British government.
It's understandable that British people will have an attachment to a system they regard as "theirs", but as the wider world adopts metric, so too should the UK.
" as the wider world adopts metric, so too should the UK"
Ever been to the US, the most powerful nation on earth?
Ever been to the US, the most powerful nation on earth?
Yes I have, and imo they should adopt metric too :o)
However, I think that it is more urgent for the UK to do so, given its prominent position within the EU.
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