![['Sean Aylward, owner of the Humble Barber shops in Summerside and Charlottetown, doesnâ\x80\x99t understand why the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission is keeping his businesses dry while customers at similar establishments are allowed to tip back a couple of drinks.']](https://saltwire.imgix.net/tg-22122016-barber-shop.jpg?cs=srgb&fit=crop&h=568&w=847&dpr=1&auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance)
The owner of the Humble Barber shops in Summerside and Charlottetown, said the commission denied his request to obtain a liquor licence for the two locations during a board meeting recently.
Aylward was informed of the decision Wednesday afternoon. He was told a request to change the licensing regulations will have to go back to the province’s finance department, which is responsible for the liquor commission.
He’s not optimistic, especially since this is the second time he’s applied and nothing came out of the first attempt.
“I’ve lost all faith in this process, and that sucks because I am an involved person in this community,” Aylward said Wednesday afternoon.
“I just ask for one thing, and that’s to be treated on the same level as my identical competition and they just throw up hurdles and barriers. It’s a bunch of bullshit.”
At issue is whether the two barbershops could be considered spas, which Aylward says would allow him to obtain the licence to serve alcohol.
Similar locations like the Ten Spot in Charlottetown — which, according to its website, is billed as the “anti-spa” — have obtained liquor licences from the commission.
Aylward said there is no difference between spa services and those offered in his shops, such as hot shaves and haircuts.
Initially, the commission’s board told him the application was rejected because the Humble Barber locations don’t offer a registered massage therapist, even though Aylward said other spas that don’t have this feature have been licensed in the past.
“What they keep saying to me is I should offer more services,” said Aylward. “But I don’t think that me changing my business model is really necessary, and I’m already doing what worked for other businesses (to get the licence). It seems like there’s a double standard being applied.”
The barber is still hoping some public pressure will lead the commission to change its tone. Aylward’s initial Facebook post about his application reached more than 75,000 people and was shared between 300 to 400 times, with most commenting in agreement. He planned another post about this latest decision Wednesday evening.
A request for comment from the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission was not provided as of deadline.
