MADISON, Wis. — Samples of hard alcohol will soon be offered at liquor and grocery stores in Wisconsin under a bill Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law.

The Distilled Spirits Council announced Wednesday that Walker had signed the measure in a private ceremony. The measure easily passed the Legislature with bipartisan support.

Retailers with liquor licenses will be able to offer customers no more than one half-ounce of booze, the equivalent of a third of a shot.

State law already permits stores to offer beer and wine samples. Supporters of the bill say offering the free samples will help distilleries and other liquor sellers compete with breweries and winemakers.

The Distilled Spirits Council says 46 states now allow for some form of liquor sampling.