3 Monmouth TGI Fridays Restaurants Named in $500K 'Operation Swill' Settlement

Written by Patch Editor Anthony Bellano.

A franchisee of the group of New Jersey-based TGI Fridays restaurants raided as part of "Operation Swill" in May will pay a $500,000 fine and not contest the charges presented to them, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman and Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Director Michael Halfacre announced Wednesday.

Freehold, Hazlet and Marlboro TGI Fridays are among the eight restaurants under the management of the Briad Group involved in the settlement, according to the press release issued by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG). A total of 13 TGI Fridays were raided.

In May, over 1,000 bottles of booze were seized from 29 New Jersey bars on allegations they filled premium alcoholic beverage bottles with cheaper alcohol in an attempt to deceive customers while increasing profits.

“Briad’s restaurants were scamming customers by serving them a cheap substitute for what they ordered,” Hoffman said in the press release. “This unlawful practice took advantage of consumers who were cheated out of what they thought they were purchasing. This fine should send a clear message to every bar and restaurant throughout New Jersey that customers should get what they pay for every time without exception.”

Other TGI Fridays locations involved in the settlement included East Windsor, West Orange, Old Bridge, Piscataway and Linden.

Briad will pay $400,000 for its violations, and $100,000 for investigation costs, both to the ABC.

Each location listed in the settlement will be given a five-day suspension through June 30, 2014. If no further violations occur, these days will be dismissed.

Additionally, the settlement calls for Briad to employ a monitor, appointed by the ABC, who will have access to all books, records, compensation programs and any other information the monitor deems appropriate, Hoffman said. The monitor will submit his findings to the ABC.

“Drink substitution threatens the integrity of the alcoholic beverage industry, and retailers, wholesalers and customers all lose because of this illegal activity,” Halfacre said in the press release.  “The financial penalty imposed on Briad should serve as a deterrent to licensees, and we are optimistic that the corrective actions taken by Briad will prevent any further deceptive practices.”

The investigation of other establishments targeted in “Operation Swill,” remains ongoing, Hoffman said.

Investigators, acting on tips and consumer complaints, visited 63 licensed establishments across the state and covertly took 150 samples in January and February.

The undercover detectives paid for drinks ordered with no ice or mixer.  Some of the locations visited had previous complaints against them, and some were chosen at random.