The big minibottle battle ended Tuesday when Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill allowing South Carolina bars and restaurants to pour liquor from large bottles.

The governor also signed a high-profile bill that substantially toughens penalties for domestic violence, a bill that gained traction only after state Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, made national headlines by questioning why women returned to abusive relationships.

Sanford has until midnight today to decide whether to sign a bill aimed at strengthening seat-belt laws, a bill the governor has said doesn't go far enough.

The signing of the minibottle bill comes about six months after South Carolinians voted to remove the constitutional requirement that the 1.75-ounce liquor containers be used. The bill appeared to have stalled last month after House and Senate members couldn't agree on a distribution system.

"This gives restaurants a choice, and stops government from mandating the pouring of the stiffest drinks in the country," said Sanford spokesman Will Folks. "It is no coincidence our DUI death rate is among the highest in the nation. This is a big step in getting at that problem."

The domestic abuse bill drew attention when the House Judiciary Committee nixed it, while approving tougher penalties for cockfighting. That, and Altman's response, sparked a backlash that reached the Governor's Mansion. Sanford and his wife spoke out for tougher penalties.

"Nothing is more central to quality of life than being safe in your own home, and yet tragically, too many women in South Carolina haven't been able to enjoy that basic building block of freedom," Sanford said.

When the law takes effect, the minimum fine for a first conviction of domestic violence will double to $1,000 and offenders can get 30 days in jail. A second conviction brings a penalty of up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines, much more than the current 30 days or $500 fine. A third offense is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The bill includes incentives for abusers to seek treatment, mandates continued judicial training and creates a legislative panel to study the need for further changes.

Sanford signed about 30 bills Tuesday, including legislation to prevent rapists from claiming paternity rights to children created as a result of the crime.

On the seat-belt issue, Folks couldn't say when today Sanford might make a decision. "He has heard from a number of concerned South Carolinians on both sides," he said.

Under the bill, drivers not wearing seat belts can be fined $25, but the offense will not go on driving records or be forwarded to insurance companies. Police won't be able to issue tickets at traffic checkpoints and will be required to compile data to track whether racial profiling played a part in who is stopped.