HARRISBURG -- The state Senate's Law and Justice Committee is trying to liberalize beer sales in Pennsylvania.

Yesterday it approved House Bill 1420, which would permit beer distributors to sell one, two or three six-packs of beer at a time. Currently, distributors can only sell full cases of either 24 or 30 cans.

The bill also contains a change pertaining to taverns (and a few restaurants) that sell beer. Now they are limited to selling one or two six-packs. Under the proposed law, they could sell up to three six-packs at one time.

The law also permits the sale of a new form of packaging, an 18-pack, starting in September 2008.

Not all beer distributors are on board with the changes, Sen. John Rafferty, R-Montgomery County, admitted, but he's hoping to bring the bill up for a full Senate vote in November. House approval would then be needed, probably early in 2008.

Sen. Sean Logan, D-Monroeville, said one advantage in letting distributors sell as little as one six-pack is that consumers can try new beers without having to buy a full case.

"If you buy a case of something now and you don't like it, you drink the first can of beer and are stuck with 23 cans you have to give away," he said.