Restaurateurs and bar owners opposed to Allegheny County's 10 percent drink tax say they are done "playing nice" with politicians who supported the levy and have not pledged to repeal it.

A group of them yesterday launched a political action committee -- Hospitality Political Action Committee of Western Pennsylvania -- which they said will be the political arm of their campaign to end the drink tax.

"This tax can't stand. It's a travesty, and our first goal is to oppose Brenda Frazier," said John Graf, vice president of the Priory Hospitality Group.

Standing behind the bar at Jerry's 1888 Restaurant & Tavern on the North Side, Mr. Graf, chairman of HosPAC, said the group's campaign against the former county councilwoman, who voted for the drink tax, will serve as an example to all politicians and send a message: "Supporting the drink tax has consequences."

Ms. Frazier, 67, of Stanton Heights, was among 10 council members who voted for the drink tax during last year's county budget deliberations. The drink tax, together with a $2-a-day tax on car rentals, began in January to fund the county's $30 million subsidy of the Port Authority.

Ms. Frazier, who resigned from County Council in February, is seeking the Democratic nomination in next Tuesday's primary to fill the 21st state House district, which covers Pittsburgh's eastern neighborhoods.

She is running against former Pittsburgh Councilman Len Bodack Jr. and former Pittsburgh Police Chief Dominic Costa to replace Lisa Bennington. Ms. Bennington ran as a reform candidate two years ago, but the Morningside Democrat decided not to seek re-election.

"We're rolling out our campaign against [Ms. Frazier] with radio commercials on KDKA and KQV, on billboards and through e-mail blasts," Mr. Graf said.

The slogan featured in the commercials is, "Vote no on Brenda Frazier, the drink tax raiser." The radio spots and billboard campaign, which will run until next Tuesday, will cost the group about $8,000, Mr. Graf said.

"I think it's unfortunate that they have taken this approach," Ms. Frazier said yesterday, adding: "I did what I felt was in the best interest of the community when I voted for the [drink tax.]"

Her vote for the drink tax, Ms. Frazier said, "was the best option we had at the time. I have talked to a lot of people during this campaign who tell me that they gladly pay the drink tax because they want to have reliable public transportation."

Notwithstanding the campaign against her, Ms. Frazier said, she is counting on the electorate in her district to overlook her "one vote for the drink tax."

"I'm hoping people won't be fooled by this single issue and I think we're doing well in this campaign," she said.

Mr. Graf said wholesale liquor sales declined by 4.8 percent in Allegheny County since January, while surrounding counties went up 7.6 percent, according to figures supplied by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. That shows drinkers are not happy with the tax and the atmosphere is ripe for a successful defeat of politicians who supported the drink tax, he said.

HosPAC, which has so far raised about $15,000 in political contributions, was formed by a coalition including Dana Fruzynski, proprietor of the Harris Grill, Sean Casey of the Church Brew Works, and Tom Pastorius of Penn Brewery.