"Operation Swill" Liquor Switchers Face Class Action in NJ

Two residents of New Jersey have filed a proposed class action after news broke of multiple restaurants and bars, including several TGI Fridays, selling cut-rate liquor and even dyed rubbing alcohol as top brand liquor.

A year-long investigation by the New Jersey Division of Alcohol Beverage Control that found 29 bars commonly rebottled inexpensive drinks such as vodka and even faked products entirely.

Kristi Pasieka and Nicole E. Ruglio filed the class-action in Mercer County Superior Court last Friday, accusing the thirteen TGI Fridays operated by the Briad Group, a hospitality company that also has three additional TGI Fridays in New Jersey and a total of 70 nationwide. Briad is accused of an illegal but “uniform policy” to “substitute cut-rate liquor” for premium named brands.

Stephen DeNittis will represent the women who have filed on behalf of a proposed class which includes any consumer affected by the alleged scam. The lawsuit seeks compensation equal to the cost of all affected drinks, plus triple in punitive damages for each consumer.

The lawsuit is a response to Operation Swill, a year-long investigation by the New Jersey Division of Alcohol Beverage Control that found 29 bars commonly rebottled inexpensive drinks such as vodka and even faked products entirely, using caramel to color rubbing alcohol and then selling it as whisky. As far as DeNittis is concerned, it’s “classic consumer fraud,” violating the public’s basic right to expect that they are given what they pay for. Companies allegedly continued the practice as a way of increasing profits.

TGI Fridays has not commented on the lawsuit, but the Texas-based restaurant chain has stated that it has zero tolerance for any actions that “undermine our guests and call into question the reputation we have built up over the past 48 years.”

Briad has also reiterated its commitment to treating customers honestly, adding that the company has “begun our own investigation to learn if any of the reported allegations are accurate.”

Although no criminal charges have been placed yet, investigations are still ongoing and the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control, along with the Attorney General’s Office, are testing around 1,000 bottles seized from the 29 restaurants and bars.

Any violation of state laws is sure to impact the class action, which names New Jersey TGI Fridays located in Clifton, East Hanover, East Windsor, Freehold, Hamilton, Hazlet, Linden, Marlboro, North Brunswick, Old Bridge, Piscataway, Springfield, and West Orange.