Some bars and restaurants in Winnipeg are now removing coin-operated breathalyzer tests they installed after being told the money raised would go to local charities.

The move comes after CBC News learned questions were being raised about where the money was actually going.

"Obviously it was a little bit of a breach of trust," said Heather Milne, a spokeswoman with the Pony Corral restaurant in downtown Winnipeg.

The Fox and the Fiddle on Main Street has also disabled its breathlyzers and the King's Head Pub is considering having its machines removed.

CBC News recently uncovered concerns about the Burn Victims Aid Society, a Toronto-based group that asked restaurateurs to install the breathalyzer units to raise money for charity.

The Burn Victims Aid Society says on its website that it works with local firefighters. But the Firefighters Burn Fund in Manitoba said it only heard about the society when a concerned restaurateur contacted them.

"When it came to our attention that they had absolutley nothing to do with Winnipeg firefighters, we decided to take down the machine," said Milne.

She also said the decision was partly based on comments from a city police officer, who said people shouldn't trust the coin-operated units in making a choice about whether to drive or not after drinking.

Sgt. Rob Riffel said the units are not reliable, whereas those operated by police are high-tech devices that get recalibrated frequently to detect blood alcohol levels.

Milne said she wants her customer to "be better safe than sorry" and not put their faith in the machine's reading.