Dozens of bar and restaurant owners across eastern Ontario are calling for changes to Ontario's provincial liquor inspection policies.
The group says liquor inspections are becoming more frequent and charges of alleged infractions are happening more often.
"They can charge a bar owner and they can shut you down without having any type of recourse," bar owner Eric Kafrissen told CTV News.
Kafrissen, who owns the Fiddleheads Bar and Grill in Perth, Ont., says inspectors don't need any proof to defend their observations and he's the one who's on the hook if his patrons aren't drinking responsibly.
Kafrissen is currently fighting an alleged liquor infraction from last year which has already cost him $8,000.
"We face something that all bar owners across Ontario face, we face trying to keep our costs down, keep our bar open and now we have the Alcohol and Gaming Commission putting handcuffs on us," he said.
But Lisa Murray of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says inspections in Ottawa have tapered off since last year's NHL playoffs.
She says inspectors are just doing their best to enforce Ontario liquor laws.
"We want people to be compliant. If we never had another liquor violation in Ontario, we'd be happy," Murray told CTV News.
Although Kafrissen is being vocal about his concerns, he says he's not trying to waive his responsibilities as a bar owner.
He says he knows he has to be accountable.
Kafrissen and a group of other bar owners say they plan to step up their lobby efforts in the coming months.
With a report from CTV's Chris Day
