Imperial pint loses its crown

A couple of weeks ago the Sunday Mirror ran this story about the crown stamp on pint glasses being replaced with an EU mark:

Since 1699 the crown has guaranteed drinkers a full pint or half pint.

But under new EU weights and measures laws a CE mark (European Conformity) will adorn glasses from now on.

The explanation in the Campaign for Real Ale newspaper, What's Brewing, (which does not have an on-line article archive, so I can't give you a link) was somewhat different.  According to CAMRA, this change has nothing to do with EU rulings and everything to do with the demise of British manufacturing. 

We don't make pint glasses in the UK any more. They are made in eastern Europe, mostly in the Czech republic.  Any glass produced by these manufacturers is automatically given the CE mark, even if it is an imperial pint.  The EU has not decreed an end to the crown on the pint glass. It is the victim of the same economic factors which have led us to import things that we used to make.

Apparently, the change has already happened. While there may still be plenty of crown-stamped pint glasses around, they are no longer being produced in any quantity. As the article concludes, once the last one gets broken the crown on the pint glass will be a thing of the past.

Fortunately, I have quite a few crown-stamped beer glasses in the cupboard. I think I'll treat them more carefully in future.

Comments

[james highamj]

First time to your blog and immediately I almost threw up. Not you, I assure you. Your news. They're replacing the crown!!!!! How does one go about killing a monolithic octopus with tentacles reaching into every aspect of our private lives?

[Jason Cyphus]

Oh No!!! It's started!!! Please hurry and sign the petition to SAVE THE GREAT BRITISH PINT at http://www.savethepint.com

[Kelly]

I live in the US but I have one precious pint glass with a crown stamp on it. It's similar to your picture here. I hope they continue making them with the crown stamp.

I really love this glass and would like to buy more. If anyone knows where I could buy them, please contact me at rowantree@hotmail.com. Thank you so much!

[Kelly]

Sorry...I did find them on eBay, by the case! The seller is ikonictrader if anyone is interested.

[CE Stamped Plastic Glasses]

I do not think that story is wholly accurate. We (the UK) have been granted special dispensation by the EU to continue producing and using the Government stamp and to also use the CE mark on Pint Glasses and such. As the government stamp will eventually become redundant most companies now producing glasses for use in licensed premises will not create a tool (machine) for producing a product which will eventually become un-saleable. Government stamped glasses are still produced in the UK, however companies producing glasses for licensed premises would be foolish to spend money creating glasses bearing the crown as these will soon become redundant. You can find government stamped glasses bearing the crown but usually only on ‘old’ machines.