Tasmac to restrict bulk sale of liquor this election

However, to restrict bulk sale of alcohol till April 18 in Tamil Nadu, Tasmac has come up with a new resolution. The government will also deploy security persons in sensitive liquor shops during campaign.

It is common knowledge that voters are ‘influenced’, especially during the run up to elections, with cash, liquor and the rest. However, to restrict bulk sale of alcohol till April 18 in Tamil Nadu, Tasmac has come up with a new resolution. The government will also deploy security persons in sensitive liquor shops during campaign.

A person would be allowed to purchase only two full bottles (750 ml) of any hard liquor this week onwards even as the election campaign is expected to start shortly. Similarly, one would only be allowed to purchase four beer bottles (650 ml) in single sale. The limit of storing alcohol at home has been reduced to four bottles from 12 (750 ml).

A senior Tasmac official told DT Next that as per the current rule, an individual can purchase three litres of hard liquor, which is about more than three full bottles (750 ml/bottle).

“Soon after the poll schedule was announced, a meeting involving excise officials, revenue authorities, was held, over restricting the sales during campaign. We also discussed possibility of closing liquor shops across the State the day nominations are filed,” the official added.

However, an individual can stock one case of beer (12 bottles) and an equal number of wine bottles at home. “As beer and wine have lesser alcohol content, we didn’t change the norms,” the official added.

In Elite liquor shops, a person can purchase five full bottles of hard liquor in single sale through cards since details of the individual, especially the bank and card number, will be stored.

Stating that sales of illicit liquor will be monitored around the clock, the official said 90 Prohibition Enforcement Wings will function during election time for eradicating distillation, transportation, possession and sale of illicit liquor and prevent smuggling of spurious liquor and non-excised Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).

At present, Tasmac has 43 IMFL depots, 4,000 retail vending shops and 1,450 bars attached to these liquor shops. “About 500 liquor shops across the State have been identified as sensitive,” the official said.