The US government is set to limit the sale of booze over the Internet following a three-to-one majority vote in the House of Representatives. If ratified by the White House it would give US states with tough liquor legislation the power to take legal action against out-of-state Web sites if found to be in breach of those laws. Advocates of the proposed legislation said it would protect minors and uphold state laws in those areas where the sale of alcohol is outlawed. Critics warn it will simply hit small liquor e-tailers where it hurts. Last week a supreme court judge in New York ruled that an Antiguan gambling site was covered by the laws of New York state simply because the service could be accessed from there. It seems laws governing Web sites are dependent on where the site is accessed -- not where it is based. ®