Bar Served Rubbing Alcohol In New Jersey, Complete List Of 29 Raided Pubs In 'Operation Swill' [MAP]

New Jersey Bar — Police in New Jersey have raided 29 bars, including 13 TGI Fridays, that have been accused of selling rubbing alcohol, dirty water and cheap liquor instead of premium booze. New Jersey Attorney General Office

A bar in New Jersey had an unusual recipe for scotch: rubbing alcohol mixed with caramel food coloring. The discovery was made by police in “Operation Swill” -- a yearlong investigation into 29 bars that have been scheming their patrons.

The bars, which include 13 TGI Fridays, have been accused of using cheap liquor, dirty water and rubbing alcohol instead of premium booze customers ordered, AP reports. Police confiscated 1,000 open bottles of vodka, gin, rum, scotch, whiskey and tequila from the wells of the bars, according to a statement from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

“This alleged scheme is a dishonest ruse to increase profits, and it is a slap in the face to the consumer,” Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said in a statement. “Consumers should have the peace of mind of knowing that they will get what they spent their hard-earned money on every single time -- no exceptions.”

The police learned of the illegal sales thanks to confidential informants, customer complaints and sample tests recovered by undercover police officers. The samples were tested using the True Spirit Authenticator -- a device that can quickly analyze what’s inside an alcoholic drink. Any samples that were flagged were sent to the drink manufacturers’ labs for further testing, The Record reports.

Penalties for serving a drink other than ordered range from a five-day suspension for the first offense to a 15-day suspension for the third offense. The bars could also face 30-day suspensions for “illegal activity on the licensed premise” and for not cooperating with the investigation.

The Briad Group, which owns the 13 TGI Fridays, says it will be conducting its own investigation.

"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," Rick Barbrick, president of The Briad Restaurant Group, told AP.

Below is a complete list of the New Jersey bars targeted in Operation Swill:

Railroad Café, East Rutherford

The Brick House, Wycoff

Sunset Tavern, Burlington

Graziano’s Ristorante, Chesilhurst

Villari’s Lakeside, Gloucester Township

Yesterdays, Marmora

TGI Fridays, West Orange

Italian Affair, Glassboro

Bells Tavern, Lambertville

TGI Fridays, East Windsor

Brunswick Grove, East Brunswick