It is permissible to ask the barman for a "double". In British pubs, the size of drink is carefully controlled - such control is demanded by Her Majesy's Customs and Revenue. WE normally have "spill trays" under the taps for draught beer or cider. Spillage is then caught, returned to the supplier and tax paid on the spillage is then refunded.
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Carleton MacDonald Sent: 29 October 2013 12:26 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:53365] Re: Paul Trusten on Dram Vials My wife is in a nursing home in NYC and I go there on Amtrak every week to visit her and take her out in her wheelchair. (The fare is helped by the fact that I work for Amtrak.) I usually come home on an Acela Express train and we can purchase a first class seat at a low cost but only within one hour of departure. First class includes a meal and drinks. The spirits (gin, vodka, etc.) come in standard 50 ml bottles, the same as on airlines. Each bottle is one serving. Looks like we get more here than in a pub over in the UK. In the USA I've just seen bartenders upend the bottle, which has a spout pushed into the opening. I don't know if it dispenses any standard amount or if the strength of the pour depends on the bartender's whim. Carleton -----Original Message----- From: Martin Vlietstra [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 03:45 To: 'Carleton MacDonald'; 'U.S. Metric Association' Subject: RE: [USMA:53358] Re: Paul Trusten on Dram Vials Seriously though, I think that this humorous discussion shows just how much variation there is in a dram. The US fluid dram is 3.7 ml while the Apothecaries dram is 10.3 g. In the UK, the legal units of measure by which spirits may be sold is 25 ml or 35 ml - choice of unit is the landlord's choice, but the pub ort restaurant concerned must publicise which measure they are using. -----Original Message----- From: Carleton MacDonald [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 29 October 2013 03:30 To: [email protected]; 'U.S. Metric Association' Subject: RE: [USMA:53358] Re: Paul Trusten on Dram Vials After the second or third "wee dram" you probably don't care too much what it is ... Carleton -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Martin Vlietstra Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 13:08 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:53358] Re: Paul Trusten on Dram Vials I don't know what a dram of cough medicine is, but I am often invited to share a "wee dram" with my brother-in-law (who is Scottish). How many Americans know what that is. :-) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 27 October 2013 23:05 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:53357] Re: Paul Trusten on Dram Vials Paul-- You're right as always! Next time some anti-metricationist claims that people don't understand metric, only the customary system, say to that person: "Tell me: How much is a dram when you measure out your cough syrup?" I suspect no one but you, Paul, would have the slightest idea. I know I don't! --Martin M.
