Ken Ruinard Anderson Independent-Mail Chris Walker, a bartender at Brick City Grille in Anderson, makes a margarita Thursday. Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill allowing a transition from mini-bottles to larger alcohol serving bottles in Columbia Thursday.

By JULIA SELLERS Anderson Independent-Mail
June 23, 2005

Fully stocked shelves of minibottles soon will be cleared out at area bars to make room for the liter bottles used in free pour drinks.

On Thursday, Gov. Mark Sanford held a signing ceremony for the bill passed by the General Assembly June 2 that did away with the state’s distinction as the only one to require use of minibottles. The switchover will take effect July 1.

The Governor’s office saw the bill as a way to reduce alcohol-related traffic deaths. The alcohol serving per free-pour drink is one ounce. A minibottle contains 1.75 ounces.

"You look at our DUI death rate and our extra strong drink from a minibottle and can’t help but draw the conclusion that one is affected by the other," Gov. Sanford’s spokesman Will Folks said.

He also touted the bill as a big victory for businesses, which prefer less government regulation.

Nima Aghaebrahim, a manager at Tucker’s Restaurant and Bar, said he likes the free pour method better, but business inventory will be harder to track. He also said some customers express concerns about how much liquor will be in their drink.

"Some think they aren’t getting as much liquor in a drink," Mr. Aghaebrahim said.

He said Tucker’s bartenders would pre-measure a drink before pouring the final product, unlike some restaurants.

Ken Ferace, owner of the Brick City Grille on Clemson Boulevard, said free-pour drinks were a benefit to all, especially travelers who have expectations of how a mixed drink is blended. South Carolina didn’t allow more than two minibottles in one drink.

The bar anticipated the switch from minibottles to liter bottles by not including shelves for them.

While business owners support the change, bar patrons are split down the middle when deciding which method is better.

Danny Wilbanks of Greenwood and Andy Bolt of Greenville debated which method was better as they talked over a drink.

"It’s hard to make a good drink with a minibottle," Mr. Wilbanks said, noting that all liquors in an original recipe, like Long Island Iced Tea, might not be included.

"I like the minibottles better," Mr. Bolt said. "I like knowing (the drink) is consistent. We’re all big people."

While both disagree on the best way to make a drink, they did like bartenders having discretion to pour less alcohol for customers who may become inebriated.

But Anderson resident Randy Whitehead, a Tucker’s bartender, said he worries a bartender could give more alcohol in a drink to regulars, and then give the non-regular less liquor to make up the difference. Whitehead said the difference could eventually give bars fewer new customers and less business.

Julia Sellers can be reached
at (864) 260-1244 or by e-mail at
sellersjd@IndependentMail.com

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