THE iconic British pint will be saved from competing measurements such as the Aussie “schooner.”
Following pressure from The Sun, ministers have stepped in to close a legal loophole that could have allowed draught beer to be sold in metric units.
Following pressure from The Sun, ministers have stepped in to close a legal loophole that could have allowed draught beer to be sold in metric unitsGetty
A key amendment to the Product and Regulation Bill will now enshrine in law that draught beer, cider, and milk in reusable bottles must continue to be sold by the pint.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds hailed the move as a victory for British heritage.
He said: “There is nothing more British than a pint in your local pub, and I’m proud that we have today protected it for generations to come.”
He added that the change will be welcomed by the hospitality sector, “ensuring businesses can continue selling millions of pints in the years ahead”.
Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Andrew Griffiths hailed the move a win for Sun readers and a “significant government U-turn”.
He said: “Labour were caught red-handed trying to ditch our British pint through a backdoor bill but were exposed and forced to backtrack.”
Mr Griffiths insisted that without Conservative intervention, the fate of the pint would have rested solely in the hands of the Business Secretary.
The news comes as the average price of a pint is set to surge past £5 for the first time, adding more pain for drinkers.
Pub chiefs have warned that prices will have to increase in order to keep venues running when labour costs increase next month.
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