British House of Lords Votes to Protect the Pint Measurement
2025-03-14



Britain's House of Lords voted recently to make sure that pubs can still serve pints - a liquid measurement of just over half a liter. The pint survived even after the country's change to the metric system in 1965.

Discussions over Brexit - the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union - also saw debates over a return to British imperial measurements. These include pounds for weight, feet for length, pints for liquids, and so on.

The European Union and most of the rest of the world use the metric system.

After Brexit, the Conservative government decided to keep the metric system. Still, other measurements remained in place for beer and some other goods such as fruits and vegetables sold in markets.

The debate in the House of Lords followed Conservative claims that the new Labor government wanted to propose laws to ban pubs from selling pints.

Tory Lord Andrew Sharpe said that one of the most enjoyable questions in the English language is "Fancy a pint?" The question is a way of asking others if they would like to have a beer in a pub.

Sharpe described the pint as a British "institution... linked to our history, and part of our heritage."

The government eventually backed an amendment put forward by the Liberal Democrats. The amendment would bar passage of any law restricting the use of the pint when selling beer, cider or milk. "The government has absolutely no plans to change the rules around the use of the pint measurement," said Labor's Lord Sonny Leong. He added that with the weather getting better, "it is very much my hope that pubs up and down the country will be full of customers enjoying pints of refreshing beer or cider. The pint is safe with us."

I'm John Russell.

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Words in This Story

pub - n. a business where alcoholic beverages and food are sold and consumed

imperial - n. of or relating to the Commonwealth of Nations and British Empire

institution - n. a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or culture

heritage - n. tradition, something passed down

refreshing - adj. agreeable; pleasant; making you feel less hot, tired, or thirsty