[USMA:37411] Re: Losing the battle by inches | Chicago Tribune

[Remek Kocz]

Even in Canada the 591 mL is used rather than 600 mL.  On a recent visit, I saw a promotional display at a store, luring customers with "Get a free candy bar with any 591 mL product."  Considering the fantastic job the Canadian dairy industry has done (4 L, 2 L, 1 L, and 250 mL milk cartons; 2 L containers of ice-cream), it's surprising seeing such awkward sizes coming from the soft drink industry.  Since the bottlers are independent, perhaps all the bottles are coming from the US.

Mike,I am certain that if the FPLA amendment went into effect now, and Coca Cola removed the non-metric labeling from its liter-sized bottles, no American, save the anti-metric fanatics (there are some) would notice or complain.  I think I can say that, as far as the people of the U.S. are concerned, the liter is the psychological standard of measurement for carbonated beverages, and removing the non-metric statement would not at all be unfair to U.S. consumers.  That is why that, during National Metric Week, I wrote to a Coca Cola official urging his company to round the vending machine bottles from 591 mL to 600 mL, so they'd be labeled "600 mL (20.3 fl.oz.)."