Northern News Services

Inuvik (Mar 15/04) - Frosty's Arctic Pub will face the NWT Liquor Board once again.

The Inuvik watering hole has been accused of allowing drunkenness and for selling or supplying liquor to an intoxicated person. A public hearing will be held March 16 at the Eskimo Inn.

This is the fifth allegation the pub has faced in two years. The last conviction was in October for overserving a customer. The pub had to close down for five days and pay a $2,000 fine after being found guilty by the liquor board.

If found guilty this time, the board will decide on a new penalty.

The board will also visit Hay River, March 18, for two hearings. The Zoo faces allegations of allowing drunkenness while the Hay River Fire Department faces allegations of allowing drinking in a licensed premise after hours. The hearings start at 9 a.m. in the Ptarmigan Inn. The Gold Range Hotel in Yellowknife will also face the board for an allegation for allowing drunkenness. The hearing starts at 9 a.m. at the Explorer Hotel on March 19.

The NWT Liquor Board will be hosting two other meetings during their visit to Inuvik. There will be a meeting for organizations on March 15 at 4 p.m. followed by a public meeting at 7 p.m. at the Eskimo Inn.

"We want to see if there is anything we can do differently or better and we would like to hear concerns," said John Simpson, the board's chair.

The last such public meeting in Inuvik was held in October. Nobody showed up. There will be no public meetings in Hay River or Yellowknife at this time.