The newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu, under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, has ordered the shutdown of 717 TASMAC liquor shops in the state that are located within the 500-metre radius of temples, schools and bus stands.
These liquor stores are run by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), where the state currently has a total of 4,765 liquor stores.
Key Details
The closure of these liquor stores should be completed within the next 2 weeks.
Of the total 717 liquor outlets ordered to be shut:
- 186 liquor stores are located around educational institutions.
- 276 shops are near places of worship.
- 255 stores stand in proximity to bus stands.
According to the government press note, “the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay, issued directives to conduct a survey and identify those shops located within a 500-metre radius of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands. In accordance with the aforementioned order, it was identified that 717 retail liquor shops are currently operating within these three specified categories.”
The press release continued that the TVK administration has kept the “general public welfare in mind” while arriving at this decision. It stated, “Taking public welfare into consideration, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay, has ordered the closure — within the next two weeks — of a total of 717 retail liquor shops, comprising 276 shops located near places of worship, 186 shops near educational institutions, and 255 shops near bus stands.”
This move has been welcomed by TVK’s coalition partner Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
Economic Ramifications
While this decision aims at ameliorating the common man’s apprehensions regarding the location of liquor stores near sensitive public spaces, simultaneously, this policy may reduce state’s earnings since the TASMAC liquor outlets generate high revenue for the government.
It is to be noted that Tamil Nadu has the highest outstanding debt among the Indian states, expected to exceed ₹10 lakh crore by the 2026-27.
Therefore, the economic implications, if any, will be known when the state budget is presented, accounting for the losses incurred.
TASMAC Under ED Scanner
Last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had carried out searches in the offices linked to the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation due to alleged money laundering offences.
TVK Government Formed on May 10
The TVK government was formed on May 10, where Joseph Vijay, actor-turned-politician, was sworn-in as the Chief Minister. His party was the single-largest party in the 2026 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly elections.
