It has been mandatory within the EU for alcohol content to appear on the packaging of any alcoholic beverage. It is usually expressed as a percentage alcohol by volume. In addition, in the United Kingdom we have "units of alcohol". One "unit" of alcohol is 10 ml of pure alcohol. Thus a 500 ml can of 4.2% beer would contain 2.1 units of alcohol while a 25 ml tot of 40% whiskey would contain one unit of alcohol. Although pubs sell whiskey in measures of 25 ml or 35 ml, they are required by law to serve beer and cider by the [British] pint, so the sensible drinker cannot easily keep track of his alcohol consumption when drinking beer or cider.
The British Department of Health recommends that men should not exceed 21 units of alcohol per week and women should not exceed 14 units a week. _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of STANLEY DOORE Sent: 01 August 2007 14:45 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:39215] Metric only labeling Newspapers are now reporting that the U.S. Treasury Department is considering a new rule that would require companies to put content labels for alcohol on all alcoholic-drink packaging. This would include beer cans to wine bottles. A major letter writing and contact campaign should begin now to allow these labels to carry metric only labels since there will be no or insignificant cost for metric only labeling to be added by if it is done in conjunction with the change to new labels. It an opportunity which should not be missed. Go Metric! Regards, Stan Doore
