NJ T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants Fined $500K For Drink Switching

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Half a mil for serving swill.

An operator of T.G.I. Friday's restaurants in New Jersey raided as part of "Operation Swill'' has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine for serving customers cheap booze when they paid for top shelf.

Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said Wednesday the fine levied against Livingston-based Briad Group should send a message to every bar and restaurant in the state that customers should always get what they pay for.

Twenty-nine establishments were raided as part of the operation.

The eight T.G.I. Friday's included in the settlement are in West Orange, East Windsor, Old Bridge, Piscataway, Freehold, Marlboro, Hazlet and Linden.

Under terms of the settlement, Briad will employ a state-appointed monitor through June 14 to ensure the restaurants and employees are in compliance.

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