EU says Britain can keep pints and miles

Published 10:11 pm Thursday, November 29, 2007

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Parliament voted Thursday to allow Britain and Ireland to keep some of their old imperial measurements so pubs can still serve pints and road signs can show miles instead of kilometers.

European Union rules drafted in 1999 aimed to phase out the imperial measures by 2009, but the EU’s executive body decided in September to reverse course in the face of public opposition.

“This is good news for British and Irish citizens, who are used to their traditions of miles and pints,” said Guenter Verheugen, the EU’s industry policy commissioner.

Britain and Ireland, like almost all countries around the world, officially use the metric system, but imperial measures are often still used alongside metric counterparts.

Under the EU decision, they can keep miles on road signs, and pubs may continue to serve draft beer and cider in pint mugs. Pint-sized milk bottles will also be retained, along with the Troy ounce for weighing precious metals.