Tamil Nadu may cut number of liquor shops

The government is considering various proposals to streamline sale of liquor through Tasmac outlets in the state. A day after state prohibition and excise minister Natham R. Viswanathan made it clear that total prohibition was not immediately feasible, recommendations such as closure of all bars sparing elite Tasmac shops, and liquor shops with low sales and those located near schools and temples are now being considered.

Last month Tasmac had submitted data to the government on its sales dipping over seven per cent in the past two years and the government is not in a hurry, as prohibition is a policy matter, said a Tasmac official.

An announcement may be made during the Assembly session scheduled next month. September end is the crucial date for the state to convene its assembly where the budget allocations announced in March had to be cleared within six months for execution. “Our hunch is that there may be an announcement either in September or next January ahead of Assembly elections,” the source said.

The Tasmac authorities are also looking at allowing “elite liquor shops” to operate and closing down the rest. Besides there is a consideration of closing down all the bars and allowing only shops to run, the source said.

Consumption of liquor had already gone down by seven per cent. So far there is a no panic button and our shops will continue to operate, sources rued adding that Rs 29,000 crore of the total state’s budget estimate of Rs 1.40 lakh crore was from sale of liquor.

Meanwhile, with the demand for prohibition gaining momentum several members of private distilleries and suppliers are now thronging Tasmac headquarters at Egmore seeking clearance of their pending bills.

“Since last month I have been frequenting the Tasmac authorities. With strong rumours, the employees of our company are now demanding their dues like leave travel allowance and bonus”, said a representative of a private distillery company on Tuesday.