Minibottles may seem a charming S.C. quirk to some, but the fight over them is turning decidedly less gracious.

With a referendum on S.C. liquor laws days away, two groups calling themselves hospitality associations are taking the bottle battle to court.

At a 10 a.m. hearing today, the Hospitality Association of South Carolina will ask a Richland County judge to stop a pro-minibottle group from using the name "Palmetto Hospitality Association" in television ads.

The Hospitality Association of South Carolina was founded more than a decade ago and says the Palmetto group -- formed Oct. 1 -- chose a similar name to confound voters.

The S.C. association's lawsuit says the Palmetto group is backed by liquor stores, distributors and wholesalers who benefit from the state's mandate that bartenders use minibottles to pour drinks.

South Carolina embraced minibottles in 1973 in an effort to allow restaurants to offer drinks but encourage moderation.

Critics say the opposite occurred. Minibottles grew to 1.7 ounces, packing in more alcohol per drink than the standard 1.25-ounce shot.

Republican Gov. Mark Sanford blames minibottles for stiff drinks that contribute to the state's soaring highway death rate.