Minibottles may leave South Carolina

This could be the year that South Carolinians do away with the minibottle. South Carolina is the only state that still uses minibottles as it's method of serving liquor in bars and restaurants. Some state lawmakers want that to change. Two bills made it to the Senate this week. The first outlines that changes that would affect the service industry. The second proposes a referendum that would let the state vote on whether or not to keep the minibottles.

There are mixed feelings on the issue. Local businesses seem ready for the change, some South Carolinians like the state's tradition of the little bottles, and other lawmakers want more time to discuss the bills.

Senator Phil Leventis is filibustering the bill because he believes the first bill needs more discussion before the Senate votes. His main concern is how the changes will affect the state. "I have been arguing very vehemently against passing the referendum before we pass the bill that talks about how we intend to implement it," Leventis says. Leventis also believes that they're making some progress on finalizing the exact changes that the public will have to face if the state does away with the minibottles.

But how are bars and restaurants reacting the possible changes? Scott Brewer, bar manager for Delaney's Pub in Five Points, says they're prepared for the move to bigger bottles and the price tag that will come with the change. "Going to free pour bottles…we'll have to spend probably a rough figure, nine to eleven thousand dollars to redo our entire bar," Brewer says.

Brewer also says that they will have to buy new shelving, scales for the new bottles, and everything else that comes with completely changing the way they serve drinks.

And with bars spending more money, and customers possibly paying the same for less alcohol, Senator Leventis doesn't think South Carolina is ready for the switch. "I don't see a ground swell of public concern for this change," Leventis says.

The customers have mixed opinions about the switch from minibottles to larger bottles. Their main concern seems to be that the change will affect the amount of alcohol in their drinks.

Brian Anderson is from North Carolina where bars use the "free-pour" method of serving alcohol. He says, "Back home I know a lot of bartenders and a lot of bars I go to of course you get that extra little bit in your drink and here you have no chance of that."

South Carolina residents seem to have different views. Megan Wright lives in Sumter and she thinks that minibottles are a sure way to get what you're paying for. She says, "There's also the change with ["free-pour"] you can get less than what you were expecting so there's a downside to it. It's kind of a double-edged sword."

Anderson and Wright are discussing over-pouring and under-pouring, but Brewer says he hopes his bartenders will not let either of those practices take place in his bar. "I'd like to think I could trust them, I guess we'll have to find out."

Megan Wright just hopes she gets the chance to vote because she doesn't want to say goodbye to the minibottles. She says, "The idea that you get a fair drink for what you pay for. I'd be kind of sad to see that go."

The Senate will continue to discuss this bill over the next couple of days. But right now, it doesn't look like South Carolinians will get the chance to vote on minibottles anytime soon.

Reported by:

MarthaWoodward

Martha is a Columbia girl. She graduated from Richland Northeast High School. She works at WIS-TV as tape editor. Martha loves spending time with her colleagues at Carolina News. When she’s not working she enjoys shopping and reading. Martha wants to pursue a career as producer, and hopes to become a news director one day.