Top Shelf, Bottom Line: The Liquor Swap That Fooled Guests

Guests were ordering premium cocktails, but something didn’t taste right. The bar’s inventory numbers looked fine — on paper. Behind the scenes, however, a bar back had found a way to stretch the bottles further: by topping them off with cheaper liquor.

Altivue Insights uncovered the deception through a combination of discreet observation and inventory checks. We noticed suspicious bottle handling and mismatched fill levels that didn’t align with sales. The scheme was simple but costly: customers thought they were drinking premium spirits while the business lost credibility and revenue.

Our clear reporting gave management the confidence to address the issue, tighten stock controls, and implement random bottle audits. Protecting your brand isn’t just about marketing — it’s about ensuring that what’s poured into the glass matches the promise on the label.