568.26 milliliters of your finest ale, my good man!

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Europe has finally come to its senses:

The European Commission today confirmed its decision to allow Britain and Ireland to keep some of their old imperial measurements so pubs can still serve pints and road signs will show miles instead of kilometres.

European Union rules drafted in 1999 aimed to phase out the imperial measures by 2009, but the EU's executive body decided on a U-turn in the face of public opposition.

The decision "honours the culture and traditions of Great Britain and Ireland, which are important to the European Commission," said Guenter Verheugen, the EU's industry policy commissioner.

I'm not so sure they are -- important to the EC, that is -- no matter how it's spun by Verheugen and his fellow centralizers. This was a case of public pressure trumping the totalitarian tendencies of Europe's regulation-happy technocrats.

Which is fine, really -- and rather gratifying.

Some things -- like the pint, like a pint of beer -- are sacred.