The government actually IS doing a consultation on bringing back imperial measurements!

[Kendodd]

I thought it was a joke.
AIBU to think this is a complete load of bollocks waste of money?

The questions don't even give you the option of saying just keep metric.
Example question -
For Consumers,

a) If you had a choice, would you want to purchase items:

(i) in imperial units?

(ii) in imperial units alongside a metric equivalent?

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1079711/choice-on-units-of-measurement-markings-and-sales-consultation.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjchIqM1pT4AhXIPsAKHWSZBW0QFnoECAUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw05usEgoqbR2NHfgE3SzAYH

@Lunar27 one of my uni lecturers used to pronounce tonne as tunie. America is increasing switching to metric, particularly in STEM. NASA I believe are completely metric since the Mars Climate Orbiter fail.

It’s an absolute waste of resources when most of us happily use both now.

I’m no fan of Boris but even I am shocked that this is a priority when the country is falling apart.

Hence why we both said it was too late obviously! Did you read that before telling us what the logical nightmare would be?

Yes, that's why I said it was far to late to change that and we're stuck with it.
It wasn't just about reducing the cost of cars though, it was about having standards systems with the rest of the world. I also wish we just has a standard phone charger, standard plug sockets and electricity etc.

Well that's a step up on the PIP application form which isn't available online at all.

What's 6" in cm? Or would mm sound better?

Asking for a friend

2.54 cm=1in

Those Mumsnetters pearl-clutching over the threat of mandatory use of pounds and ounces clearly haven't read the consultation document:

3.2 The consultation will feed into the announced review to identify where the Government can provide greater choice around the units of measurement used.

Quite clear that the government merely wants to provide more choice. They're not banning metric.

I use imperial weights for baking (as most recipes still do), it would actually be useful to be able to buy two ounces of glacé cherries rather than having to remember that it equates to 57g when weighing it out at a refill shop. The reason that I don't just fill the jar and weigh out the recipe at home is that glacé cherries are both very nice and expensive - buying excess quantities results in me stuffing my face.

Still, I was in the greengrocers' today, their scales are still imperial ones, no one has complained in the 28 years since the Units of Measurement Regulations were brought in.

Quite clear that the government merely wants to provide more choice. They're not banning metric

Have you read the consultation?

This consultation will explore the appetite of businesses and consumers to buy and sell in imperial units. In recognition that there will be people in the UK who have no experience of imperial measurements, the consultation also explores whether there should be a requirement for the equivalent metric measurement to appear alongside the imperial measurement where imperial units are used.

I wonder if the Government realises that there is choice at the moment.

Main thing is in metric
Plus Imperial if you want

I guess their preference is main in Imperial and metric if you want

About 15cm, 30cm is about a foot.

Oh FFS.
Anyone else heard the "More or Less" spiel where someone explains the Imperial system to Hannah Frye? I want a transcript. That's what I'd send in for my contribution to consultation.

I thought a British pint was 20oz but American pints are 16 oz, but someone online said a British pint was actually 14 oz. wtaf

22'25" into the podcast, Imperial system explained. So simple!!!! #Irony

Dino

Thank you.

As a woman it all sounds average 😂

It's Matt Parker - 'StandUpMaths' on social media

I'm 26.

I prefer a lot of imperial measurements. I never use kilometres for example. I never use kilograms to describe my weight. I'd rather measure in inches than centimetres... I'd rather someone said "Ben was standing about 12 feet away from me" rather than using metres.

Yes, I have read the consultation. It states that the government wants to provide retailers with a choice in what units they advertise their products in.

At the moment they must advertise in metric, but can also add an imperial equivalent in a smaller font. The government wants to enable them to choose to advertise in imperial instead (if they want, remember no one will be forcing individual businesses to change).

The government wants to know whether it will be fine to permit imperial measurements to stand alone, or whether to mandate that where imperial units are used, a metric equivalent should be displayed too (even if in a smaller font, which would not be permitted currently).

Again, there is no suggestion in the consultation that retailers couldn't continue using metric alone as they do at the moment.

So put down your smelling salts, you won't see Tesco changing their labels. Though I'm sure that you've all enjoyed having an excuse to wail about how the government is apparently taking the country back to the dark ages and will soon be permitting kids to work up chimneys and down mines.

Again, there is no suggestion in the consultation that retailers couldn't continue using metric alone as they do at the moment

But there is a suggestion that retailers could decide to use Imperial and drop metric if they choose.

I can't see a suggestion that retailers could use metric alone. Can you?

I'm not sure retailers want it. Asda seem to think it's a big waste of time and money for no benefit. And they're right, it's bullshit.🤷‍♀️

I honestly thought the More or Less section was a bit sneery. Deliberately presented to sound even more complicated than it it - which is very. They then went on to have a more interesting discussion about pints and baby weights and the history of metric, which was actually more interesting. Expanding that would have used the time better.

The smugness is part of why the Brexiters don't like us. (Staunch Remainer here, who thinks this consultation, much like this government, is a joke)

Well, in one sense it will help - if retailers are permitted to display in Imperial only, it will help me identify Brexit loons and take my business elsewhere. Silver linings, I suppose.

YANBU. Fuck that, I’m not doing it.

The current law allows imperial to be used alongside metric. So no need for any change.

But the EU never did ban the use of Imperial.

As the consultation makes clear, "imperial units can be used alongside metric units, [as long as] the imperial markings [are] no larger or no more prominent than the metric ones."

So, what we have now is a reasonable system which allows retailers to use imperial if they wish.

This consultation is a lame attempt to distract from the haplessness of Johnson's leadership.

But the EU never did ban the use of Imperial.

This cannot be said often enough. It was always permitted to use Imperial measures alongside metric, in the same size font. It's only the dreamers of long lost Empire who want their outdated system to have pre-eminence - at a cost of millions to British businesses. More futile flag shagging.

More futile flag shagging.

It’s what they do best.