The European Union had been extending Great Britain’s deadline for full conversion to the metric system, and now they’ve completely dropped the requirement, placating sticklers for the mile and pound. EU officials now say that Britain’s continued use of imperial measurements won’t impede trade, and thus there’s no reason for the strict change. But Britain is still further along than the U.S. in adopting the metric system for most products, packaged and bulk. And in 1963 the drachm, scruple, minim, chaldron, quarter, rod, pole and perch were retired.