If it's illegal to sell goods in imperial measurements in the UK, why does beer continue to be sold in pints?

...in pubs, that is.

If it's illegal to sell goods in imperial measurements in the UK, why does beer continue to be sold in pints?
It is not just pints of beer which are an exception to the EU metric standards, UK uses imperial meaurments for signage on roads and speed limits.





The reason is that the UK negotiated an exception (called a derogation) from the EU harmonisation "indefinitely"





In the House of Commons on April 11th 1989 n the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Francis Maude said





" Now, let us consider the detail of the [European] Commission's proposals. The first proposal covers the mile, yard, foot and inch for road transport purposes, the pint for dispensing draught beer and cider, the pint for milk in returnable bottles, and the acre. We and Ireland would be able to continue to authorise those units for these purposes for as long as we wish, without any need for a further EC decision. "
Reply:MrDave21, a standard pint that is served to us in pubs is actually 568ml and not 650ml as you stated
Reply:Could you imagine going into the pub and asking for a 568ml of lager!
Reply:One word Tradition,it is to much of the British way of life to change.The Powers that be in Bruxelles tried to get it changed, but Britain along with Ireland got a Derogation and kept their Pint. I n Ireland the Street Traders still use LLBS Pounds to weight things such as Fruit and Veg and also some Butchers Shops. The same thing happens when People are buying Lino or Curtains they prefer to use the old Imperial Measurements instead of Metres.
Reply:Have you ever seen anybody try to take an Englishman's pint off him. BODY is the operative word in that phrase.
Reply:See you already know.


it is a colloquial term accepted in the PUB or more accurate the dive. :~)


But in the stores, proper labeling is required.


You got any shillings or pounds?? or did you accept the change to the euro.
Reply:Because 1/2 litre is not enough beer and a whole litre is too much. The pint is a very old and effective measure. Imagine the cost to the drinks industry of replacing all its pint and 1/2 pint measures. Imagine people relearning their personal drinking capacity in litres.





You will wait a long time before the metric system is accepted in the British pub. The idea was put forward in the 1980's and swiftly seen off.
Reply:a 'pint' was redefined to mean 650ml. Therefore it is a 'metric pint'