Post-Brexit plans to restore the Crown symbol to pint glasses and lift the EU ban on imperial measures were announced today (Friday 3 June).
In honor of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, new government guidance issued today will assist businesses in using the Crown symbol on pint glasses.
As early as 1698, British pint glasses intended for measuring and serving beer were stamped with a crown to indicate that when filled to the brim or to a line measure, the glass accurately measured a pint of beer. Customers were reassured by the Crown stamp that they were not being sold too little beer. However, in order to comply with EU rules in the UK, the symbol was replaced in 2006 by the EU-wide ‘CE’ marking.
Along with the Crown symbol guidance, a consultation on how to change the law on weights and measures was published today, giving shoppers and businesses more flexibility in how they buy and sell products.
The consultation will assist the government in considering options such as allowing vegetables to be sold in pounds solely, or in pounds with a less conspicuous metric counterpart, if businesses so want.
This will assist guide the government’s intentions to pass legislation to provide businesses more options in terms of the units they use. There is no intention of requiring firms to change their current methods, thus this will not increase business costs.
Today’s statement is about more than simply pounds and ounces; it’s about where the UK’s laws are written. The metric martyrs were a totemic case in establishing EU law’s primacy. Now that we have left the EU, the UK can make decisions that are best for British businesses and consumers.
Business Minister Paul Scully said:
This Platinum Jubilee weekend we’re raising a toast to Her Majesty The Queen’s health and service to this country. It’s a fitting tribute that we’re now helping businesses to restore the Crown symbol to pint glasses.
While we think of our fruit and veg by the pound, the legacy of EU rules means we legally have to sell them by the kilo. Our consultation today will help shops to serve customers in the way their customers want.
With just a few exceptions, UK law presently mandates metric units to be used as the primary indication for all trade purposes, reflecting restrictions from our time in the EU. Imperial units are currently only permitted to be used on their own in a few cases, such as draught beer and cider sales. Now that the UK has exited the EU, it can act in the best interests of its businesses and consumers.