Think metric
By Eileen Cox
Guyana changed from the imperial system of measurement to the metric system on 1 January, 2002. There has been ample time for us to adjust our thinking but the majority of consumers still think in imperial terms and purchase vegetables and fruit in pounds and not kilogrammes.
Most businesses have quickly adopted the metric measurements as it makes trade easier. However, it was a surprise to see 24 oz boldly marked on the label of an I—CEE drink without the equivalent in metric terms.
A bottle of Diamond Mineral water also carried the imperial measurement of 20 oz, with no metric equivalent.
This is not good enough for business firms especially as we are now talking of corporate social responsibility and one of the important requirements under social responsibility is obedience to the laws of the land.
Some years ago, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, which has the responsibility of ensuring that we all swing to metric, published a brochure as a simple guide for consumers. We should study it and change our thoughts from imperial to metric.
Let us say ‘mass’ not ‘weight’. This is not going to be easy. Just imagine asking someone: “What is your mass?”
Use kilogrammes (kg) and grammes (g) instead of pounds (lb) and ounces (oz)
Instead of ¼ lb ask for 125 g.
Instead of ½ lb ask for 250 g.
Instead of 1 lb ask for 500 g (1 lb 1½ oz)
Instead of 2 lbs ask for 1 kg (2 lbs 3 oz)
Instead of 4 lbs ask for 2 kg (4 lbs 6 oz)
Buy rice, peas and all grains in kg NOT pints.
Use milligrammes (mg) for medicines and recipes.
Check your body mass in kg.
For volume
Use litres (l) and millilitres (ml) instead of pints and gallons.
1 litre equals 1,000 millilitres (ml)
Instead of ½ pint ask for 250 ml.
Instead of 1 pint ask for 500 ml.
Instead of 2 pints ask for 1 litre.
Instead of ½ gallon ask for 2 litres.
Instead of 1 gallon ask for 4 ½ litres (8 pints).
Buy gasoline and kerosene in litres
For length
Instead of 1 foot ask for 30 cm.
Instead of 1 yard ask for 1 metre (1 yard 3 inches).
Check your height in centimetres (cm).
Distance on the roadway is measured in kilometres (km).
1 kilometre equals 0.6 mile.
Purchase fabric in metres.
Note: There is no ‘s’ added to the metric abbreviations, for example, 4 litres or 4 l.
