EU wants to scrap UK pint, metric trial told

Britain is being dragged by Europe towards a metrication system which could see the end of the pint of beer, a court has heard.

The claim was made at the trial of fruit-and-veg trader Steven Thoburn. He is being prosecuted by Sunderland City Council for breaching Euro legislation.

Mr Thoburn, from Sunderland, denies two counts of having imperial-only weighing scales.

Michael Shrimpton, representing Mr Thoburn, told the hearing at Sunderland Magistrates Court that Europe was intent on converting Britain into a purely metric system.

He said that Euro legislation currently allowed weights to be displayed in both metric and imperial but the day would come when imperial would be outlawed.

Mr Shrimpton said: "The critical difference between British weights and measures and Euro policy is that the Euro one is one of compulsion. British weights is one of freedom of choice and dual system.

"In 1972 a Government White Paper said there would never be an 'M Day' for metrication not like decimal currency's 'D-Day'.

"The policy of the European Union is to move the UK to metric. The exceptions, such as a pint of beer and pint of milk are vulnerable to repeal by this European directive probably against the wishes of the British people.

"If this prosecution succeeds the days of the pint of beer will be numbered, because in reality that's the policy the EU is gradually moving towards," he added.

The hearing continues.