I've found it odd that the only TV ads I've seen on changing South Carolina's minibottle law have been those that oppose it.

I say odd because changing the law has long been one of the major priorities of the S.C. Hospitality Association and the state's tourism industry.

It once seemed a slam-dunk, but now, with the election two days away, there is no certainty that South Carolina will vote to clear the way for free-pour bottles in bars and restaurants.

The latest Mason-Dixon poll found 44 percent in favor of change and 35 percent against. That left nearly

20 percent undecided.

Let's make clear what we are talking about.

Amendment No. 1 on your Tuesday ballot will give lawmakers an OK to draft legislation that permits those bars and restaurants that want to switch to free-pour bottles to do so. It does not outlaw minibottles.

Let's make one more thing clear.

The people who are campaigning against the amendment, under the cleverly misleading name "Palmetto Hospitality Association," are mainly liquor distributors who see minibottles as a cash cow and don't want change.

The people who are on record against minibottles are Mothers Against Drunk Driving, many religious organizations, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and the Myrtle Beach Hospitality Association.

And Gov. Mark Sanford, who just last week made an extraordinarily strong push of a "Yes" vote.

"The bottom line," the governor said, "is that our state shouldn't mandate the stiffest drink in the country, which is what you end up getting with the minibottle."

His point - and the point of all proponents of Amendment No. 1 - is that a minibottle holds 1.7 ounces of liquor while most free-pour drinks hold less.

So where has the other side been?

I put the question to Tom Sponseller, executive director of the S.C. Hospitality Association - the real hospitality association.

"We can't afford it," he said.

"It's not a financial thing for us to change, not a dollar deal. Our bars and restaurants will continue to serve alcohol either way."

It seemed a rather sad admission, considering how hard the tourism industry has worked to get this issue, finally, before the voters. They couldn't scrape up enough to tell their story?

And it would be a shame if voters rejected the amendment because opponents were the only ones talking to undecideds.

ONLINE | For past columns, go to the Bestler page at MyrtleBeachOnline.com.