COLUMBIA | After months of wrangling over how to create a system allowing free pour and minibottles, the House and Senate easily passed a measure they both agreed on Thursday, the last day of the regular legislative session.

The House agreed to the revised bill 99-0 and the Senate passed it on a voice vote.

Starting January 1, bars and restaurants could begin using the larger free-pour bottles in addition to minibottles.

The measure will become law when Gov. Mark Sanford signs it.

He supports the change to free-pouring.

"The owners and operators are elated, they've been waiting for this for a long time," said Tom Sponseller, president of the S.C. Hospitality Association.

The association has fought for about 10 years for an end to the requirement that bars use minibottles.

South Carolina has been the only state requiring the 1.7-ounce bottles since 1992. The standard drink is 1.25 ounces.

Voters said in November that they wanted to end the minibottle requirement.

The measure approved Thursday allows bars and restaurants to continue to use minibottles or pour from larger bottles.

The legislature spent most of this session working out how to adjust the current distribution system to make it all happen.

It includes a committee to monitor service to bars and to reconsider changing the distribution system in January 2007.

Andrew Manios, owner of Club Kryptonite in Myrtle Beach, said he plans to switch to the larger bottles even if it means remodeling the establishment's five bars to accommodate them because it would allow his bartenders to make drinks faster than they can while opening minibottles.

He said the larger bottles will add a lot of flair to the club, because bartenders will be able to do tricks with them, rather than just cracking open a little bottle the size of a thumb.

Brian Bray, a bartender at Fat Tuesday's at Broadway at the Beach, also sees a financial advantage with the free-pour option.

"I can pour faster, and the faster I can pour, the more money I can make," he said. "Like any other business, it's all about numbers."

At least one local business owner plans to stick with tradition.

"Personally, I like the minibottles," said Russell Vereen, owner of Russell's Seafood Grill in Murrells Inlet.

"On my end of it, it's really easy for me on the inventory side of it. And the customers know that they'll get what they pay for."

The bill allows specially licensed liquor stores to deliver supplies to bars, something bars have wanted for a long time.

Current state law requires bars to pick up their own liquor at the stores.

The bill allows the stores to begin delivery of minibottles as soon as the governor signs the measure into law, which could come in a few days.

After Jan. 1, they can deliver the larger bottles and the bars can pour from them.

Sponseller said some of his members told him they have already called the store they usually buy from and asked for delivery next week.

Staff writer Russ Lane contributed to this report.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

DON BOOKER | manager of Surf Beverage Beer Wine & Liquor, Murrells Inlet