(Columbia) June 7, 2005 - Minibottles can disappear from bar shelves starting January 1st as part of a bill Governor Mark Sanford signed into law on Tuesday.

Voters approved a state constitutional amendment last fall to end a state law that required bars to serve booze from the 1.7 ounce bottles. South Carolina was the only state that served liquor only from minibottles.

Lawmakers negotiated details into the final hours of the session last week.

Orlando Patterson, manager of Goatfeathers in Five Points, says they're ready to make the switch, "We'll double up on our bartenders here. I'm sure we'll get a larger crowd. And free pouring, we can be more creative with drinks and get them out faster."

He says bartenders will have a chance to do tricks with the bigger ones, "I'm sure you'll have some cocktail bartenders out there. It may bring more character to the bar."

It'll bring more options for customer Chris Mouganis. He thinks minibottles are just that: minimal, "The limitations of the amount of types of alcohol that are available."

Not everyone is a free pour fan. Some customers like Ryan Brown say the little bottles hold a whole lot of clout, "I think with the minibottles you get what you pay for. You know, once they crack it open it's there and it's what you get and you're getting a true drink."

Restaurants and bars can still use minis, but will now have the option to pour liquor from the larger bottles if they choose and Patterson says with change comes challenges, "For some businesses I'm sure there will be a problem with inventory control. I'm sure some bars may be a little bit lenient with their drinks."

He says customers shouldn't be overtly concerned about short drinks, "However, when it comes down to it, when you short somebody on their alcohol, they're not gonna want to come back."

By Angie Goff
Updated 10:24pm by BrettWitt with AP