A NJ crackdown on 29 bars switching out booze finds one sold rubbing alcohol with caramel as scotch whiskey. Dubbed Operation Swill, 29 bars are accused of switching out top shelf alcohol for cheap booze selling drinks at premium prices.

Twenty-nine New Jersey bars and restaurants, including 13 TGI Fridays, were accused of substituting cheap booze for the good stuff while charging premium prices. One bar actually took out the booze and replaced it with rubbing alcohol. Yes, lethal rubbing alcohol!

Raids continue to be conducted as recent as Wednesday as part of a yearlong investigation called Operation Swill.

New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said samples were sent to labs and their recent test results proved borderline dangerous.

"There were a couple of incredibly interesting ones," he said. "One was described to me as essentially river water' - they didn't even think it was actually tap water. Another one we believe was rubbing alcohol and caramel color to make it look like a whiskey."

"River water" refers to dirty water or cheaper spirits with water added, he explained.

In January and February, investigators went to 63 NJ establishments they suspected were scamming liquor customers. They ordered drinks neat, without ice or mixers, and then covertly took samples for testing.

Of 150 samples collected, 30 were not the brand as which they were being sold.

The establishments face suspensions of their liquor licenses and possible revocations if there are enough violations.

TGI Friday's issued a statement Wednesday afternoon.

"TGI Friday's was just made aware of this issue and is working closely with the franchisee and owner of the cited locations to review and investigate these serious allegations," the company said. "We have one of the most extensive bar and beverage programs in the industry, which sets a very high standard in the quality and service of our beverages."

Paying more money for low quality alcohol I can tolerate. But rubbing alcohol at TGIF! That could kill somebody.

Rubbing alcohol is not ethyl alcohol (beverage alcohol), but isopropyl alcohol, a totally different chemical than the alcohol of beer, wine, or liquor. The lethal dose of isopropyl alcohol by mouth in adult humans is about 8 ounces.

8 ounces to be lethal! That's just a wine glass worth of alcohol. Taking away their liquor license and closing the place down is not enough. Attempted murder and felony charges should be imposed on whoever is serving the deadly cocktails to make a few extra bucks. Shame on them.

The following bars and restaurants were named in the investigation:

Railroad Café, East Rutherford

The Brick House, Wycoff

Sunset Tavern, Burlington

Graziano's Ristorante, Chesilhurst

Villari's Lakeside, Gloucester Township

Yesterdays, Marmora

TGI Fridays, West Orange

Italian Affair, Glassboro

Bells Tavern, Lambertville

TGI Fridays, East Windsor

Brunswick Grove, East Brunswick

TGI Fridays, Old Bridge

TGI Fridays, North Brunswick

TGI Fridays, Piscataway

TGI Fridays, Freehold

TGI Fridays, Marlboro

TGI Fridays, Hazlet

Murray's, Dover

TGI Fridays, East Hanover

Sona Thirteen, Morristown

Blackthorn Restaurant, Parsippany

Ruby Tuesday, Bridgewater

TGI Fridays, Linden

Café 34, Matawan

Applebee's, Kearny

Cucina Calandara, Fairfield

TGI Fridays, Woodridge

TGI Fridays, Springfield

TGI Fridays, Clifton