Georgians who order a bottle of wine at restaurants and can't finish it would be able to take it home under legislation that won final approval Tuesday.

The "Merlot to go" bill passed the House 125-34 Tuesday after earlier getting through the Senate.

Senate Bill 55 is similar to a bill that passed the General Assembly previously, only to be vetoed by Gov. Sonny Perdue. The governor said he vetoed the bill because an amendment had been placed on "Merlot to go" legislation that threatened federal highway funding.

This time around, nothing was added to the bill.

Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon), who owns restaurants, called passing the bill a "safety issue." He said it would prevent diners from feeling like they have to finish a bottle of wine before they leave a restaurant to get their money's worth.

"This bill allows the person to make the smart decision to cork that bottle," Peake said.

However, Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica), a former policeman, questioned whether the bill would do much to prevent drunk driving.

According to the bill, recorked bottles would have to be placed in sealed bags or containers and transported in the trunk or locked glove compartment of a car.