The Metric Martyrs was a British advocacy group who campaigned for the freedom to choose what units of measurement are used by traders.
[1][failed verification] The advocacy group was formed by individuals who had been accused of offences related to selling loose produce using imperial measures, including not displaying metric signage, and for using unstamped weighing machines (which had had their stamps removed by the authorities).
[4] The stamps had been obliterated because the scales were not capable of weighing in the metric system as well as imperial, and hence were no longer permitted for commercial use.
In 2008, Nic Davison was served with an infringement notice for selling draught beer by the litre rather than pints, at his Polish restaurant in Doncaster.
[10] Trading Standards officers threatened Davison with prosecution, and called on him to change the glasses used in his restaurant.
Prior to 1 January 2000, these regulations applied to most pre-packaged food[Note 1] but on that date, they were extended to cover selling transactions where the product was weighed in front of the customer.
Despite an early day motion by Philip Davies MP,[15][16] the pardon was denied on the grounds that an offence had been committed under the law which was in force at the time.
Since medieval times, The Crown has asserted the right to regulate weights and measures in the market place.