South Carolina is poised to move away from the distinction as the state with the stiffest alcoholic drink, if the legislature can reach an acceptable level of taxation.

Voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum in the November General Election allowing a change in the state's Constitution to move away from minibottles. A Senate committee last week approved legislation that would allow bars and restaurants to pour liquor from big bottles instead of minibottles.

South Carolina is the last state to use the minibottle, which contains 1.7 ounces of alcohol. A standard alcoholic drink poured from a large bottle, usually a quart, is about 1.25 ounces.

The minibottle hasn't been outlawed completely, though. The change in law allows restaurants and bars to sell both.

Even retaining the minibottle, the change is an advancement to bringing South Carolina into the country's mainstream. Not only will consumers be able to buy a drink that contains less alcohol, but they should be able to buy a wider variety of cocktails at a cheaper price. For instance, some mixed drinks may require several varieties of alcohol. Using minibottles for a drink that contains three varieties would put 5.1 ounces of alcohol in a drink. Large bottles allow less alcohol to be used in a drink with the same taste and a cheaper price.

Before minibottles debuted, two systems prevailed in South Carolina:

"Brown bagging" required restaurant or bar patrons to bring their liquor with them. The restaurant or bar charged them for a mixer. The smallest amount of liquor the public could buy was a half-pint. Most people brought something larger, usually a fifth (one-fifth of a gallon).

Private clubs maintained lockers with a name on them and whiskey stored inside. This sleight-of-eye method was "free pour," but it also deprived the state of a lot of revenue.

Minibottle legislation and the requisite constitutional amendment ultimately passed in this Bible Belt state because progressive lawmakers and businessmen saw the potential for tourism along the S.C. coast. Without drinks on demand instead of brown bagging, resorts such as Hilton Head Island couldn't develop to their full potential, minibottle supporters argued in 1971. Opponents ultimately saw the minibottle as a compromise between brown bagging and free pour.

Last November voters said they wanted an alternative to very strong drinks using a system that could lower alcohol content, offer more variety and potentially lower the price of a drink in a bar or restaurant. The Senate Judiciary Committee's work last week has the state moving forward, but it remains to be seen whether the consumer will see a lower price.