TGI Friday's Fined $500,000 for Booze Scam in New Jersey

After getting busted for refilling bottles of premium liquor with cheaper alcohol, a TGI Friday's operator in New Jersey will be fined $500,000. The Associated Press reports that the Briad Group agreed to the fines in part to "avoid five-day suspensions of their liquor licenses." Briad — TGI Friday's largest franchise operator in the U.S. — operates eight TGI Friday's that were charged after an investigation of 29 restaurants by the state's Division of Alcoholic Beverage called "Operation Swill." The other restaurants that were raided as part of Operation Swill remain under investigation. As part of the settlement, Briad agreed to have a "a state-appointed monitor" on staff temporarily to make sure the restaurant was in compliance with liquor laws.

· TGI Friday's in NJ Fined $500K for Switching Booze [AP]
· All TGI Friday's Coverage on Eater [-E-]