The crowning glory of Brexit

THE crown stamp that was proudly printed on pint glasses for generations, before being replaced with a European Union symbol, is expected to return in pubs across the country.

There was dismay in the pub industry when an EU directive, which came into force in 2006, introduced the CE mark as the guarantee of the pint measure and banned the use of other markings.

Brewing and pub companies urged the thenprime minister Tony Blair to allow them to keep the crown, damning the replacement of the mark which had been used since 1699 as a “needless intrusion”.

Ministers are expected to unveil the plans to reintroduce the emblem in the coming weeks, in the latest move to make the most of our postbrexit freedoms.

Former Brexit Party leader

Nigel Farage welcomed the prospect of drinking a pint from a glass featuring an emblem of the crown.

He said: “I want to see the crown back on my glass.”

The new proposals will repeal “onerous” rules and allow hospitality venues to voluntarily place the crown on pint glasses.

This will be part of a bigger package of changes that are designed to slash Eu-era red tape to “improve competition, remove barriers to innovation and help both consumers and businesses”.

A Government source said: “We took back control so we could make decisions which work in our own best interests.

“Pint glasses may be symbolic but it’s just a small part of a wide-ranging drive across government to establish the right regulatory environment to help both businesses and consumers in the UK thrive and succeed.”

The Government will set out plans to take advantage of the freedoms gained since cutting the cord with Brussels in areas including “data, transport, life sciences, farming and the environment”.

Lee Anderson, Conservative MP for Ashfield, was delighted at the return of the emblem.

He said: “This is one of the many benefits of Brexit.

“The first pint I have with the crown on will taste much better.”

Lord Davies of Gower, a vicechair of the all-party parliamentary group on beer, also welcomed its return.

He said he is also glad that the traditional pint serving had not vanished with the introduction of the metric system.

The Tory peer said: “The one thing about the British pint is you know what a head is and what you should be getting.”