COLUMBIA, S.C. - Restaurants and bars would be
able to pour liquor from large bottles under a bill that won key
approval in the House Wednesday.
The House gave second reading to a Senate bill that would end the
reign of minibottles behind bars in South Carolina, the only state
that requires saloons and restaurants to use the 1.7 ounce
containers.
Last November, voters agreed to amend a state Constitution
requirement that said bars and restaurants had to use
minibottles.
The legislation says bar patrons will pay a 5 percent tax on
their drinks to cover taxes that had been placed on each
minibottle.
The House and Senate agree on that tax.
But the House also amended the Senate bill to say that bars and
restaurants can't buy 1.75 liter bottles.
The House also said that wholesalers can directly sell their
product to bars and restaurants, bypassing distributors.
The amendments make the bill identical to a House version of the
legislation that passed and was sent to the Senate last week.
The differences in the legislation likely mean the issue is
headed for a conference committee, where legislators will work out
differences.
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