86 UK + EU = OK?
Measuring up to Europe
Despite being a member of the European Union since 1973, other countries are often puzzled by the UK’s apparent reluctance to integrate with the rest of Europe. Many British people feared that the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 would mean an end to Britain’s unique island status but it seems as if Britain’s reputation for splendid isolation has never been stronger Britons still talk about going to Europe or to the continent when they cross the Channel and foreign visitors to a British pub today are still served beer in pints and still have to pay for those pints in pounds sterling. The metric system has been taught in British schools since 1974 and today’s teenagers use it without thinking but most Britons over 40 still cling on to imperial measurements but they are also allowed to show the imperial equivalents. This double-labelling which will have to end in 2010 has led to a number of compromises. Milk and butter are still produced in their standard recognized 1-pint cartons or odd metric equivalents and market traders often advertise the imperial prices of their fruit and vegetables much more clearly than the metric prices.
Feelings run high on this issue with many people resenting the interference of Brussels in the traditional British way of life.