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Beer Day Britain: How the Magna Carta created the humble pint | |
(34 minutes later) | |
The Magna Carta is most celebrated for its supposed role in restraining the power of the king and establishing certain fundamental rights – but it could have a more inebriating legacy. | The Magna Carta is most celebrated for its supposed role in restraining the power of the king and establishing certain fundamental rights – but it could have a more inebriating legacy. |
One of the ‘rights’ enshrined by the charter was to have your ale served in a standard measure “throughout the kingdom”. | One of the ‘rights’ enshrined by the charter was to have your ale served in a standard measure “throughout the kingdom”. |
The provision, which also applied to other goods like wine, corn and cloth, was aimed at restricting the ability of merchants to short-change people by selling things that looked bigger than they actually were. | The provision, which also applied to other goods like wine, corn and cloth, was aimed at restricting the ability of merchants to short-change people by selling things that looked bigger than they actually were. |
Marcus Jones, the Government's communities minister with responsibility for local pubs, said the charter should be remembered for its role in the creation of the pint. | Marcus Jones, the Government's communities minister with responsibility for local pubs, said the charter should be remembered for its role in the creation of the pint. |
“The Great British Pub is a national treasure which is why we are determined to protect it,” he said. | “The Great British Pub is a national treasure which is why we are determined to protect it,” he said. |
“We should all be proud of our nation’s great history as a brewing powerhouse, therefore it is only right we celebrate Beer Day Britain alongside the Magna Carta today. | “We should all be proud of our nation’s great history as a brewing powerhouse, therefore it is only right we celebrate Beer Day Britain alongside the Magna Carta today. |
“I am told that in medieval times a standard measure of beer was the equivalent of 2 pints – called the London quarter - so while our glasses may now be smaller, our love for British beer remains as great as ever.” | “I am told that in medieval times a standard measure of beer was the equivalent of 2 pints – called the London quarter - so while our glasses may now be smaller, our love for British beer remains as great as ever.” |
Mr Jones is correct to cite the London quarter, which was specifically mentioned in the charter as a measurement. | Mr Jones is correct to cite the London quarter, which was specifically mentioned in the charter as a measurement. |
“There shall be standard measures of wine, ale, and corn (the London quarter), throughout the kingdom. There shall also be a standard width of dyed cloth, russet, and haberject, namely two ells within the selvedges. Weights are to be standardised similarly,” clause 35 reads. | “There shall be standard measures of wine, ale, and corn (the London quarter), throughout the kingdom. There shall also be a standard width of dyed cloth, russet, and haberject, namely two ells within the selvedges. Weights are to be standardised similarly,” clause 35 reads. |
However, the 'London quarter' actually refers a quarter of a ‘tun’ barrel – between 200 and 300 litres. | However, the 'London quarter' actually refers a quarter of a ‘tun’ barrel – between 200 and 300 litres. |
The measurement referred to what we would now think of as wholesale prices – which would likely have been of more interest to barons buying barrels of ale for their estates. | The measurement referred to what we would now think of as wholesale prices – which would likely have been of more interest to barons buying barrels of ale for their estates. |
It would be longer before the pint of beer as we know it was fully standardised: the current ‘imperial pint’ was defined by parliament in a weights and measures act in 1824, though a traditional English pint had existed for a long time prior to that. | It would be longer before the pint of beer as we know it was fully standardised: the current ‘imperial pint’ was defined by parliament in a weights and measures act in 1824, though a traditional English pint had existed for a long time prior to that. |
But the principle of standard weights and measurements was there, established in the bill of rights: thus, the standard pint of beer can trace its legacy to the Magna Carta. | But the principle of standard weights and measurements was there, established in the bill of rights: thus, the standard pint of beer can trace its legacy to the Magna Carta. |
While it’s become more acceptable to sell other things by the irregular amounts, standard measurements for alcohol have endured – maybe because it’s more difficult to judge when you’ve had a few already. | While it’s become more acceptable to sell other things by the irregular amounts, standard measurements for alcohol have endured – maybe because it’s more difficult to judge when you’ve had a few already. |
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