Operation Swill: New Jersey's top-shelf liquor scam

The Garden State's liquor regulator just busted 29 bars and restaurants for passing off hooch — or worse — as high-end booze

Bar
(Image credit: Stuart Westmorland/Corbis)

Americans don't always have the warmest feelings about government, but New Jersey regulators just gave good-goverment types everywhere a reason to cheer. Also, anyone who enjoys a mixed drink or dram of Scotch. This week, 100 investigators swarmed 29 bars and restaurants across New Jersey for allegedly passing off cheap booze — or worse — as top-shelf liquor.

They called the sting, beautifully, Operation Swill.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.