"In future" vs "In the future"

"in future" is much more commonly used in the UK than "in the future" imho.

I accept your opinion as an honest one, McTag.

I just have one minor question. Given the distinction you noted/you have noted, and I, myself, have certainly seen this - my first thoughts were that the use of "in future" most often came tied to an admonition, which your example also pointed to,

In future, mind your manners,
whereas 'in the future' seems more for normal neutral situations:
In the future, we'll all drive electric cars.
I'm not saying that one couldn't use 'in future' in the sentence immediately above.
So my question is, wouldn't you think that the normal neutral use would outnumber the admonition use or are you now of the opinion that the distinction you made isn't rigorously followed or that that distinction doesn't exist?
Remember, I too, think that that distinction exists and yet my comment above, and subsequent thinking make me doubt my initial idea.

I would expect the "in future" phrase to be used in admonition, as already seen, or in the sense of "having learned a lesson":

Examples
In future, I'll not go out on the moors without a map and a compass.
In future, I won't buy cheap boots.
It would be better, in future, not to put all your eggs in one basket.