Tamil Nadu Shuts Down 500 Liquor Outlets From Tomorrow, Opposition Lauds

State-run liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) informed that they will follow the Assembly announcement and shut down 500 retail liquor outlets in the state from June 22 onwards.

Now arrested Member of Tamil Nadu's Legislative Assembly V Senthil Balaji had reportedly made the announcement in the House in April 2023 while he was holding his Excise portfolio. 

Balaji was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate for a cash-for-job scam and he is currently hospitalised for a heart-related ailment. 

According to the reports, the TASMAC said that following House's announcement and directed by Chief Minister MK Stalin, a government order was issued on April 20, 2023. This order mentioned the identification of the 500 liquor stores in Tamil Nadu for closing them.

The TASMAC in a statement told the media, "In order to implement the GO, it has been directed to identify 500 retail outlets across the state and close them from June 22, 20223 onwards."

They also said, "Based on that, the said 500 retail outlets will not function from June 22."

TASMAC runs an alcoholic beverages retail chain in the state.

Opposition Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) welcomed the move and urged Stalin to implement prohibition in the state.

The PMK, a strong proponent of a dry state, called for the time-bound closure of the rest of the shops as well.

"Tasmac has announced that 500 of the total 5329 liquor shops in Tamil Nadu will be closed from tomorrow. This is a welcome step, albeit belated. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had announced that complete prohibition of alcohol will be implemented in Tamil Nadu gradually. This should be the beginning of the journey towards it," PMK president and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said in a tweet.