Why are UK beer cans 440ml?

[FelimDoyle]

UK drinks cans come in 440ml sizes because the combined weight of the container and the product is 1lb (453 ish grammes). Imperial weights are still standard weights in the UK. If you don't believe me, find a full 440 ml drinks can and weigh it.

That is a very interesting theory although it makes little logical sense. Why would a liquid be sold by weight, including the weight of its container? That said, UK law and regulations have involved stranger practices in the past so it is quite plausible.

My local ASDA currently has a Rollback on 4 packs of 568ml cans of 4.8% Stella Artois so I won't be buying any 440ml cans for a while in order to test this theory! However, I may weigh a 568ml can later and do some maths to see if it holds up.

AFIK, the Department of Weights and Measures is now the Trading Standards section of local authorities. I suppose I could pose the question to them on Social Media.