TGI Fridays Pays $500,000 Fine In New Jersey

By Bizclik Editor

The July edition of The Business Review USA is now live!

TGI Fridays did the ol’ switcheroo on customers by swapping high shelf booze with its bottom shelf counterpart.

The company has agreed to pay a hefty $500,000 fine and will not contest allegations against the eight New Jersey locations accused of the infraction.

The settlement comes after the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office announced that bars and restaurants throughout New Jersey had been caught switching top shelf liquor with cheaper liquor. The year long string operation, appropriately named, “Operation Swill” found 29 bars and restaurants guilty of the shady booze swap.

Read related content:

Acting Attorney General John Hoffman says, “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.”

When the allegations initially were publicized in May, TGI Fridays corporate president Ricky Richardson issued a statement saying,

"We consider the alleged actions detailed by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to be very disturbing. If accurate, they would represent a violation of our company's values and our extensive bar and beverage standards which are designed to deliver the highest guest experience in our restaurants. We have zero tolerance for actions that undermine the trust of our guests and call into question the reputation we have built up over the past 48 years."

Share

Featured Articles

Top 10 cybersecurity specialists in the US

As cyber attacks grow in frequency and become increasingly sophisticated, Business Chief looks at the top 10 cybersecurity specialists in the US.

Silicon Valley Bank collapse: How did we get here?

US authorities have stepped in to protect all Silicon Valley Bank customers following the second-largest bank failure in the country's history

Top 10 best new leadership books by women to read in 2023

To mark IWD, here’s our pick of the best new leadership books – all penned by impressive women at the forefront of the ever-evolving world of work

Eight of the best business leadership podcasts

Leadership & Strategy

CEO John Pagano, leading Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Global

Leadership & Strategy

Top 10 female CEOs according to Fortune’s Global 500 list

Leadership & Strategy