Vijay govt orders closure of 717 TASMAC shops across TN

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay ordered closure of 717 TASMAC liquor outlets, including shops near temples, schools and bus stands, amid growing prohibition demands. Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam dismissed the move as a publicity stunt, questioning the government’s sincerity and intent behind the decision

Chennai: Amid demands from women and some political parties for implementing prohibition, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday ordered the closure of 717 state-run retail liquor outlets, including 276 shops near places of worship across the state. The move was done keeping in mind the welfare of the public and Vijay issued orders to shut down the retail liquor outlets, an official release said.

Opposition DMK mocked the move as “mere PR.” Liquor sales is one of government’s key revenue generators in Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 shops near educational institutions, and 255 outlets near bus stands will be closed within the next two weeks, it said.

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There has been widespread demand, especially from women and a few political parties such as the PMK, that all the liquor shops in the state should be closed and prohibition implemented. Responding, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai claimed TASMAC outlets were not present outside places of religious worship and educational institutions.

“Will they open new shops and close them down. This is mere PR (public relations),” he said on social media platform ‘X.’ The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) operates 4,765 retail liquor outlets across the state.

In 2025, the revenue from liquor sales in Tamil Nadu was Rs 48,344 crore. TASMAC sells 551 brands of liquor imported from foreign countries, including 223 brands of wine being sold through licensed retail outlets.