Editorial: ‘Metric martyr’ isn’t about to surrender

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001 | 9:51 a.m.

Small-business men in the United States often complain -- and with good reason -- about oppressive government rules. But it is hard to think of a regulation here as bizarre as a European Union dictate that requires all goods to be sold in metric.

Grocer Steven Thoburn has refused to go along, which has prompted a local government in the United Kingdom to ludicrously put him on trial for selling bananas by the pound. As Thoburn's lawyer notes, if this is taken to its logical extreme, it could end one of the U.K.'s beloved traditions -- a pint of beer. If that ever happens, though, expect the British version of the Boston Tea Party.

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