(Columbia-AP) Jan. 22, 2004 - The Senate again wants to get rid of minibottles.

South Carolina is the only state requiring bars and restaurants to use the bottles, which contain 1.7 ounces of fluid. Legislators have tried for years to move to pouring drinks from big bottles.

Senate floor debate began Wednesday and continued Thursday.

State Senator Wes Hayes told senators the change wouldn't cost the state tax revenue collected at the wholesale level. The Rock Hill Republican says a cocktail tax would be added to each poured drink.

The legislation doesn't outlaw minibottles. Hayes says restaurants and bars could continue using them if they chose to do so.

A House version of the bill would put the issue before voters in November.

Posted 10:40pm by Eva Pilgrim