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Thread: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

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    Senior Member Mithrandir's Avatar
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    EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    The European Union is set to confirm it has abandoned what became one of its most unpopular policies among many British people.
    It is proposing to allow the UK to continue using pounds, miles and pints as units of measurement indefinitely.

    The European Commission will announce later that it is leaving all future decisions to the British government.

    The decision will not affect current law on metric measurements, but means imperial equivalents can be used too.
    BBC News
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    This doesn't actually mean that the EU has given up on anything, except taking the blame for this. A vast amount of the changeover has already been made, and this was about tidying up the few remaining exceptions, the most significant of which was miles v kilometres. It doesn't mean that change won't still happen, but that it's now down to the UK government to decide when, and if, the use of dual measurements in many things will end and it'll become metric only.

    But I would point out that most of the changeover has already happened, much of the legislation already exists and is in force and that many businesses have already been forced to expend significant sums on metric conversions which, in many cases has required replacing equipment like weighscales and in ALL cases has required recalibrating and recertifying them. Having spend all that money, I don't see many businesses choosing to revert to imperial, so all it really means is that they can continue to label in both both systems.

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    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    Back off brussels!
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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car gets forty rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it!

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    Senior Member kickstart 1's Avatar
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    Nothing wrong with a pint!!

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    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    ...or two
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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    honestly though, where's the logic to imperial?

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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    A pint is just the right size to drink

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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    Indeed. Wrist-strain from litre glasses? No thank you!

    [this was a joke directhex]
    disclaimer: quality of humour is in no way guaranteed or warranted.
    Last edited by dangel; 11-09-2007 at 05:38 PM.
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidM View Post
    A pint is just the right size to drink
    Thats all the logic I need

  11. #11
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidM View Post
    A pint is just the right size to drink
    nah, a double shot is the right amount!

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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    Quote Originally Posted by dangel View Post
    Indeed. Wrist-strain from litre glasses? No thank you!
    a pint is about half a litre

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    Senior Amoeba iranu's Avatar
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    Quote Originally Posted by dangel View Post
    ...or two
    Or a gallon. Hic.
    "Reality is what it is, not what you want it to be." Frank Zappa. ----------- "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." Huang Po.----------- "A drowsy line of wasted time bathes my open mind", - Ride.

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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    The UK will go metric eventually, it will just take a long time (probably need everyone over the age of 40 to die off ) as its only metric that's taught in schools. The biggest problem will be the cost of replacing all the road signs.

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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    I think the retail sector likes the imperial/metric confusion. It means that people have trouble compairing products... Helps obfuscate (my word of the day!) how badly we get ripped off in this country...

  16. #16
    Moderator DavidM's Avatar
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    Re: EU gives up on 'metric Britain'

    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    a pint is about half a litre
    1 pint = 20 fluid ounces = 568.26125 mL ≈ 568 mL

    So half a litre's just a bit too small for a proper drink.

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