Shoppers might soon be able to get free samples of liquor at grocery stores. Negotiators of the state budget deal have included a provision that allows grocery and liquor stores to offer shoppers free samples of hard liquor. A state law that passed in April gave them the O-K to hand out six-ounce samples of beer. Under the new proposal, customers could receive three samples totaling about a shot-and-a-half of alcohol. Kari Kinnard of Mothers Against Drunk Driving says the budget provision is a big concern, sending a message that it's okay to have a small sample and get behind the wheel. Kinnard alsp says the measure doesn't belong in the state budget, but should have been introduced as a stand-alone bill so it could have been debated. The samples would be available between 11 a-m and 7 p-m.
