COLUMBIA - The Senate inched closer Thursday to approving a free-pour bill, but action was delayed while members took the floor to reply to Gov. Mark Sanford's State of the State address.

Delay was frustrating to supporters of bills that would change the requirement to use the 1.7-ounce minibottles in bars if voters approve in November. The House passed similar bills last week.

"It's just the Senate process. I'm not discouraged," said Tom Sponseller, president of the S.C. Hospitality Association. Free-pouring has been one of the group's top priorities for years.

South Carolina is the only state that still requires bars to use minibottles instead of free-pouring cocktails from larger bottles.

Debate on ending the minibottle requirement halted while Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-West Columbia, used his personal privilege to take the floor to respond to some of Sanford's comments.

Setzler's speech was followed by several others, and just as minibottle debate was ready to resume, another senator asked to halt proceedings so he could introduce two bills.

Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, had been waiting his turn for minibottle debate almost an hour while the Senate digressed.

"We certainly have strayed a bit from the order of the day," Elliott said when he finally got the floor.

Elliott said minibottles were adopted 30 years ago as a progressive change from a ban on serving alcohol in restaurants and bars. People were allowed to "brown-bag" if a restaurant allowed it, meaning they could bring a bottle of liquor with them.

It's time to change the law again, Elliott said, a position supported by hundreds of people who showed up at a series of hearings on the issue last year.

The main opposition is from the four minibottle dealers, Elliott said.

He also cited the change from 0.10 percent blood-alcohol level for presumed impaired driving to 0.08 as another reason to offer smaller cocktails. The hospitality industry says the standard drink has 1.25 ounces of liquor.

It is unfair to the state's visitors to serve them drinks bigger than they are accustomed to, Elliott said.

The debate showed only two senators have strong opposition to the change.

One is Robert Ford, D-Charleston, who said he does not think the economic studies that show the change will bring in more revenue.

He also opposes the 5-cent cocktail tax that will be imposed on drinks that are not served from minibottles.

"I know you got enough votes for this to pass, but I don't want you telling people it's going to be revenue neutral," Ford said.

The other opponent is Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, who also said he doubts the economic studies. He said people are "naive to believe that all the benefits of this bill are so self-evident."

Leventis had the floor when the Senate adjourned for the week and will reopen the minibottle debate when it reconvenes Tuesday.