Yellowknife (Feb 11/04) - A Yellowknife watering hole has been closed by the NWT Liquor Licensing Board for 18 days and given a hefty fine.

The Right Spot Sports Bar and Grill on 50th Street pleaded guilty to allowing drunkenness as the result of an incident Oct. 4, 2003.

The Right Spot Bar and Grill will be closed from Feb. 13 to March 4 after the owners pleaded guilty to allowing drunkenness. Four other watering holes are awaiting rulings on similar charges. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

The board heard the circumstances surrounding the charges during a hearing Monday in Yellowknife.

After entering the bar at about 12:30 a.m., an investigating RCMP officer approached a man seated at the bar described as smelling of liquor and noted to have watery, glassy eyes.

The man told the officer to speak English, although that was the language being spoken. He otherwise appeared confused and swayed when walking.

The police subsequently arrested the man and he was detained overnight. Right Spot bartender John Dempsey was present at the hearing.

He told the board he was not working on the night in question and that it was the night of the "big RCMP sweep" which was Operation Hydra.

Dempsey did request, on behalf of the bar owner, that the bar be shut down as opposed to being given a fine. "Because of the nature of the business and because of the smoking bylaw, it's really slow," he said.

In its decision, board chairman John Simpson said he was satisfied the violation did occur.

The bar will close on Feb. 13 and re-open March 4 at 10 a.m. It was also given a $2,000 fine which must be paid by March 8.

Right Spot owner Ken Wong said he was surprised at the severity of the fine and length of the closure levelled against his business.

"It will be hard to be closed for that time because you lose your regulars," Wong said.

Wong estimates it is the fourth time his establishment has been charged under the Liquor Control Act in the 17 years he has had his business.

"But in other cities, they (liquor inspectors) come in two or three times a year. Here, they come in two or three times a week," he said.

"We look after our customers good, but sometimes people come in and look alright."

The Right Spot is not the only bar coming before the board. Le Frolic Bistro bar, Raven's pub, Top Knight pub and the Gold Range bar all are facing hearings which have been rescheduled to later dates.

The Raven pub is facing a charge for the number of persons exceeding the occupancy load while the others each face a charge of allowing drunkenness contrary to the Liquor Act.

The Top Knight pub hearing is slated for Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. The Raven pub hearing will be held Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.

The Gold Range hearing will be held Feb. 26 at 9 a.m., and Le Frolic will appear on the same day at 1 p.m.