I'm gonna miss all those tiny little purple sacks.
Posted on 01/01/2006 10:50:28 AM PST by Pharmboy
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The year 2005 wasn't the only thing being toasted away in South Carolina: Partygoers and bar owners finally said good riddance to the minibottle.
For 22 years, South Carolina law required bartenders to use the tiny 1.7-ounce bottles most often associated with airplanes and hotel minibars.
Then, last year, South Carolinians voted the minibottles out, and lawmakers followed through earlier this year by approving regulations to give bars and restaurants the choice to pour from the big bottles starting Jan. 1.
With the law change, the state's method for taxing liquor sales changed, too. South Carolina collected 25 cents for every minibottle sold; now, it will charge 5 percent on every drink.
"I thought it was going to be us - South Carolina - and the airplanes forever," said Matthew Andrade, celebrating with a Red Bull and vodka poured from a liter bottle at Rookie's Sports Bar & Grill in Columbia. The staff was free pouring while guests were still kissing, hugging and toasting over champagne early Sunday.
While the new liquor law took effect just after midnight, a calendar quirk wouldn't let many bars in the state take advantage. Sunday alcohol sales are banned in most of South Carolina outside of the Columbia area and the coast, meaning last call at most bars had to come before 2005's end.
Seems like an idiotic law alright.
Bottling companies are deeply saddened.
When I was a sailor in the early 1970s, South Carolina didn't allow bars to serve booze. Instead, every place was a "club" with the bartender being the member.
When each drink was served, the server had to say the following: "I'm giving you the drink from the member's bottle and selling you the setup." Every bottle had to have the member's name on it. Bartenders would write their name on pieces of adhesive tape and stick them to every bottle.
The mini-bottles were being proposed at that time.
I had some friends down to AZ over Christmas. Where they come from you can only but "3.2" beer in the supermarket and everything else you had to go to a State liqour store to buy. They about flipped when we went in a Walgreens here and everything was on the shelf.
But, as hubby just pointed out, the bartender can't over pour, and also you won't get watered liquor.
Shoot, the town my hubby is from still requires you to have a membership to the bar before they will let you in.
Friends from Idaho?
The drinks served in most bars elsewhere are 1.5 ounces so the South Carolinians will soon start to take notice of the shorter drink.
And proud of it!
The cash flow from this would be a hard addiction to overcome.
My understanding of the new law is that the bars can use either pour by the shot or mini bottles or both. Their choice.
That is one good point...
I'm gonna miss all those tiny little purple sacks.
Membership criteria was quite rigorous. I walked up to the door, the "membership director" asked me if I knew any members who could vouch for my qualifications. I looked inside, and saw a familiar face. I waved him over and he "vouched" for me.
I did have to pay substantially more to join "Wit's End." Membership there was $5.00. But they had a dress code and you could run a monthly tab......
"I did have to pay substantially more to join "Wit's End." Membership there was $5.00. But they had a dress code and you could run a monthly tab......"
Here in New Hampshire, bars are illegal. You can have a restaurant with a "lounge" but no bars. Unless the rules have changed in the last few years, the restaurant must have 60% of the seating and food sales must be at least 60% of total sales. Bars have to lie about sales ratios.
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