Texas Bars Busted For Serving Cheap Liquor Instead Of Top Shelf

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - How can you be sure that the alcohol you order and pay for is what you're actually served?

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is helping with that effort, with a new operation to identify establishments that are substituting cheap liquor for the expensive stuff.

For "Operation Bottoms Up," TABC investigators ordered top-shelf alcohol by name from 68 retailers across the state and collected 153 samples.  Five North Texas establishments failed the test, serving up low-end alcohol instead of the more expensive brands that were requested.  TABC will not release the names of the establishments at this time, but the locations include Addison, Mesquite, Dallas, Fort Worth and Irving.  TABC spokesperson, Chris Porter, says they tested everything from high-end restaurants to small bars.  When the investigation wraps up in a few weeks, all the names will be public record.  In all, 21 businesses used cheaper liquor in place of high-end brands.

This is the first time TABC has conducted an investigation like this, thanks to new equipment obtained by the agency.  But this is not the last time.

"We've heard a few complaints over the years," said Porter.  "This time around it was the ability to see if we can do this to protect the public's investment and public safety."

Porter said most of the businesses will receive warnings as a result of this investigation.  But for the seven retailers provided multiple counterfeit drinks, Porter said there could be fines or a suspension of their licenses.

"TABC, along with our partners in the alcohol manufacturing industry, rely upon retailers to serve their customers in good faith," said Dexter K. Jones, TABC Assistant Chief of the Audit and Investigations Division. "Unfortunately, in a highly competitive market such as Texas, some retailers may act against the public interest while trying to prop up their bottom line. Texas consumers and visitors should have a high expectation that retailers are committed to fulfilling their responsibility to serve customers exactly what they order."