South Carolina is the only state requiring bars and restaurants to use the 1.7-ounce bottles, and legislators have tried for years to move to pouring drinks from regular-sized bottles.

Senate floor debate began briefly Wednesday on the minibottle bill and continued Thursday.

Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill, assured senators that the change wouldn't cost the state tax revenue now collected at the wholesale level. Under the bill, a cocktail tax would be added to each poured drink.

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

The House has passed its own version of a minibottle bill, including one that puts the issue before voters in November.