(Columbia-AP) May 27, 2004 - South Carolinians might not get to vote on the state's minibottle rules this year. The House on Wednesday failed to get the two-thirds majority needed to send a constitutional amendment to voters in November.

Myrtle Beach Representative Alan Clemmons says he's hopeful of getting the two-thirds vote when the measure comes up for final approval.

The state's hospitality industry wants to end South Carolina's rules that alcohol for drinks must come from the 1.7-ounce minibottles rather than free-poured from larger bottles.

If the measure passes, voters won't be directly deciding the fate of minibottles of liquor served in bars and restaurants. Instead, they will decide if the clause in the constitution forcing the state to use minibottles should be removed. It will be up to the Legislature to pass a law regulating how liquor would be served.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the South Carolina Baptist Convention support the change. They say the minibottles result in stronger drinks than the standard 1.25 ounce cocktails.

Some lawmakers question the tax impact of the change. Sen. Phil Leventis (D-Dist. 35) is concerned a change would cost millions in revenues, "I thought we were going to lose $3 to $5 million if we made the change, so I didn't feel any compulsion to change."

But the effort to repeal the minibottle mandate has backing from Governor Mark Sanford, and the Senate passed a version of the bill in February.

The Legislature adjourns June 3rd.

Lawmakers have tried more than a dozen times to ditch the minibottle. South Carolina is the only state that requires the bottles.

posted 8:03am by Chris Rees