USA: Stronger Beer accepted in South Carolina

The House Judiciary Special Laws Subcommittee approved on Wednesday, April 19, a bill allowing the sale of beer with up to 14 percent alcohol-by-volume content in South Carolina, Associated Press posted. That's more than twice the current 6 percent limit.

Businesses that want to make money selling the so-called "gourmet" beers say they can bring more tax money to the state. The beers can cost up to ten dollars a bottle.

David Smith of Green's Discount Beverage Stores says the beer is comparable to fine wines and that there’s a huge market for the product. Smith owns stores in Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and Atlanta.

Georgia and North Carolina have both changed laws in the past couple of years to allow stronger beer sales. The bill now goes to the full House Judiciary Committee.

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