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Granted, the Brits are not a part of the EU, but isn't this similar to Article 1, sec. 8, cl. 5 of the US Constituion, which gives the Federal Congress the power to coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures.

'Metric martyrs' cannot sell in lbs and ozs
By John Aston, PA News, 18 February 2002
Five market traders – the so–called metric martyrs – today lost their High Court battle for the legal right to trade in pounds and ounces.

Regarless of my earlier statement, it is rather daft to have these men face criminal charges.

The Brits (UK) are a member state of the EU and hence they are subject to this metric directive. By the way, this is British law that is being enforced. EU directives are just that, directions to the member states. The EU Parliament then enacted the metric legislation. Very few EU regulations can be enforced without member state legislation - this is not one of them.

Read the article carefully, no one is being forced to sell in metric only, imperial measures may be used as well, but metric must be displayed as well.

It is possible to view this issue as a government insisiting that uniuform weights and measures be used, something that all but the staunchest libertarians would agree is within a government's authority. The metric martyrs are seeking a political cause and to score points against the EU.

I don't want to get into whether the EU is good or bad, it was the decision of the British Parliament to first join the EU and then to adopt the metric legislation. If the UK does not want EU regulation, it usually opts out (you can't spend Euros in Britain).

Finally, the last time I was in London, a publican was happy to serve me a pint of bitter, just like always!