Govt Extends TASMAC Business Hours in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday, 18 May, announced that the operating hours of TASMAC liquor shops across the State will be extended by 2 hours from 10 am to 7 pm. Earlier, these shops would be open to business only till 5 pm.

Reports suggest that liquor worth Rs 133.1 crore was sold in Tamil Nadu yesterday.

After the Supreme Court stayed the Madras High Court's order on closure of TASMAC shops in Tamil Nadu, token-based sales (500 tokens per day in each shop) of liquor was rolled out in the state.

However, owing to the rise in number of COVID-19 cases, TASMAC liquor shops in Chennai and Thiruvallur remained closed. Also, those in Malls, Shopping Complexes and Containment Areas cannot function as per the State government's order.

Tamil Nadu government is facing heat from opposition parties over its decision to reopen TASMAC liquor shops. Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan on Sunday slammed the government for the same. He went on to say that the government is reluctant about demanding its monetary share from the Centre.