Chennai: 500 retail liquor outlets will cease operations from June 22. 500 liquor retail outlets in Tamil Nadu are set to close. Former Excise Minister Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the enforcement, had announced in the Assembly last April that liquor vends would be closed.
138 liquor shops in Chennai alone, 78 in Coimbatore, 125 in Madurai, 100 in Salem and 100 in Tiruchirappalli. Liquor shops located near places of worship and schools, which have low income, will be closed in the first phase.
Following Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s instructions, Tasmac liquor shops were closed down. The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has stated that the liquor shops are being closed down as per the government directive.