Chennai, May 12, 2026: Fulfilling a major public demand on his second day in office, newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has issued a decisive order to close 717 state-run TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) liquor shops. The mandate specifically targets outlets situated within a 500-meter radius of educational institutions, places of worship, and major transport hubs, with the closures to be executed within a strict two-week timeframe.
This move addresses a long-standing grievance voiced heavily by women's groups, student organizations, and various political factions who have consistently campaigned for the removal of liquor stores from sensitive public areas.
Out of the 4,765 retail liquor outlets currently operated by TASMAC across Tamil Nadu, 717 have been identified for immediate shutdown under this new directive.
The breakdown of the targeted shops is as follows:
276 shops located near various places of worship.
186 shops located in close proximity to educational institutions (schools and colleges).
255 shops situated adjacent to bus terminuses.