Scores of TGI Fridays among New Jersey bars accused of substituting cheap alcohol for premium brands in statewide crackdown



At one bar, a mixture that included rubbing alcohol and caramel coloring was sold as scotch. In another, premium liquor bottles were refilled with water - and apparently not even clean water at that.

State officials provided those new details Thursday on raids they conducted a day earlier as part of a yearlong investigation dubbed Operation Swill.

Twenty-nine New Jersey bars and restaurants, including 13 TGI Fridays, were accused of substituting cheap booze - or worse - for top-shelf brands while charging premium prices.

Swill: Nearly 29 bars and restaurants in New Jersey are accused of selling a mixture of rubbing alcohol and caramel coloring as scotch, and refilling premium liquor bottles with dirty water

Liquor scam: New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, right, and Michael Halfacre, chief of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, talks about 'Operation Swill'

Evidence: Funnels confiscated during an investigation, in which 29 bars and restaurants in New Jersey are accused of putting cheap booze in premium brand liquor bottles and selling it

As part of Operation Swill, investigators collected 1,000 open bottles of vodka, gin, rum, scotch, whiskey and tequila from the wells of the bars, state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said.

‘This alleged scheme is a dishonest ruse to increase profits and is a slap in the face of the consumer,’ Chiesa said.

Within seven days, the establishments must turn over records to help state authorities determine how many patrons were overcharged and by how much.



They also will have to inform the state which employees were at work the days samples were covertly taken earlier this year.

Widespread fraud: The 29 establishments accused of scamming patrons ranged from neighborhood dive bars to fine restaurants to famous chains, inclding 13 branches of TGI Friday's

State officials would not say what establishment used the rubbing alcohol or which one used dirty water, or water not from a tap. They said no health issues were reported.

TGI Fridays Inc. said it was conducting its own investigation, working with the franchisee that owns the 13 restaurants cited, The Briad Group.

Ricky Richardson, President, Fridays USA said:

'We consider the alleged actions detailed by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to be very disturbing. If accurate, they would represent a violation of our company’s values and our extensive bar and beverage standards which are designed to deliver the highest guest experience in our restaurants. We have zero tolerance for actions that undermine the trust of our guests and call into question the reputation we have built up over the past 48 years.



'Although this is isolated to one group of franchised restaurants, I want to reiterate to all of our guests that we remain committed to delivering the “In Here, It’s Always Friday” experience to every guest in every restaurant. That’s always been and will continue to be our focus and promise to our guests.'



COMPLETE LIST OF NJ BARS BUSTED IN LIQUOR RAID:

Applebee's, Kearny

Bell's Tavern, Lambertville

Blackthorn Restaurant, Parsippany

The Brick House, Wyckoff

Brunswick Grove, East Brunswick

Café 34, Matawan

Cucina Calandara, Fairfield

Graziano's Ristorante, Chesilhurst

Italian Affair, Glassboro

Murray's, Dover

Railroad Café, East Rutherford

Ruby Tuesday, Bridgewater

Sona Thirteen, Morristown

Sunset Tavern, Burlington

TGI Fridays in Clifton; East Hanover; East Windsor; Freehold; Hamilton; Hazlet; Linden; Marlboro; North Brunswick; Old Bridge; Piscataway; Springfield and West Orange

Villari's Lakeside, Gloucester Township

Yesterday's, Marmora

Briad, based in Livingston, said it ‘takes great pride in the quality of food and drink’ served at its TGI Fridays franchises and was troubled and surprised by the allegations. It said in an emailed statement it would take immediate steps to correct any problems it identified.

‘We want every assurance possible that our guests can continue to feel confident in the great food and drink they order at our T.G.I. Friday's restaurants,’ said Rick Barbrick, president of The Briad Restaurant Group.

Operation Swill started after the state began receiving more complaints than usual about possibly mislabeled drinks, said the director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Michael Halfacre.

An informant with knowledge of the industry contacted the agency in the fall to help in the investigation, he said.

In January and February, investigators went to 63 establishments they suspected were scamming liquor customers.

They ordered drinks neat - that is, without ice or mixers - and then covertly took samples for testing.

Targeted: Sona Thirteen in Morristown was among the 29 establishments that were raided as part of Operation Swill

Undercover sting: Investigators went to 63 establishments, including Blackthorn Restaurant in Parsippany (pictured), ordered drinks neat and then covertly took samples for testing

The undercover inspectors tested vodka brands such as Grey Goose and Ketel One; scotch, such as Johnny Walker Black and Dewar’s; and Jose Cuervo Silver and Gold tequila.

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.

'Worst offender:' As many as 13 TGI Friday's franchises in New Jersey were cited in the sting, leading the company to launch its own probe



