The pint is saved

EU Commisioner for Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen, has stepped forwards to put to rest all stories about banning the British pint and other measurements.

We at the EU have decided the time has come to nail these myths once and for all by setting out in black and white what has always been our view: that Britain should continue to use imperial measures for as long as it likes.

Brits like to get milk and beer in pints and truth be told, so do the thousands of Europeans who live in or visit the UK and love those traditions that make it so unique. Brits also like the signposts to say how many miles it is to London, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast.

According to the BBC, it is not quite as easy as that, the EU has in fact backed down.

The commission has kept extending the deadline for the UK to complete the full transition to the metric system, with the most recent deadline being 2010.

This would have meant setting a deadline for ending the traditional delivery of pints of milk - and the sale of pints of beer in the UK's pubs.

Good news for all beer lovers. I find the term we at the EU sligthly patronizing, but I'll let that pass right now. We are toasting Günter tonight, and a half will not do!