PITTSBURGH -- It is the tax that's been hard to swallow.

Hundreds of bar and restaurant owners gathered at the "Priory" restaurant on Pittsburgh's North Side Tuesday night to kickoff their effort to repeal the county's drink tax.

They've labeled their effort, the "Whiskey Rebellion 2."

One by one, opponents of the tax left their mark, signing a petition to put a referendum on the November ballot and letting voters choose whether the tax lives or dies.

Petitions will now be available at more than 130 bars and restaurants countywide.

Christine Staav, who opposes the tax, says, " I think Pittsburgh is coming together on this and we feel its not right.."

The ten percent drink tax began in January, created to fund mass transit.

Its expected to raise more than $30 million every year.

County executive Dan Onorato hasn't changed his argument that without the drink tax, the only option is to raise property taxes, " I believe they're fighting the wrong battle and targeting the wrong person."

About 24,000 signatures are required to put a referedum on the ballot.

The deadline is August 5th.