Citizen Connect: Opposition to liquor shop unites residents, devotees, patients, bizmen

Ever since the liquor shop was opened four years ago, the residents here have been filing petitions. But that has not brought about any result in terms of closing the outlet, or controlling the unruly crowd by deploying police personnel, complained the people here. The crowd thronging the shop is the worst around noon, and also in the evenings after 6 pm, they said, adding that weekends, too, witness a large number of drinkers descending here.

“Even during the daytime, drunk men urinate openly on the street, whistle and call out women who walk by. It is truly unbearable,” said Meenakshi Sureshkumar, living three buildings away from the Tasmac outlet.

It is not only the residents who are affected by this. There is a Vinayaga temple and an Amman temple in close proximity of the liquor shop. “The devotees are scared to go to the temple, especially during festival times, because of the ruckus that these drunk men create there,” alleged Meenakshi.

Another group who are affected by the liquor outlet and its customers are the patients who come to the two clinics in their neighbourhood, one of which is Dr Arjun Thomas Clinic that is popular among the local public.

For others like Hari, a pawnbroker, whose shop is located on the street, the Tasmac outlet coming up there has impacted his business. “My customers have reduced drastically since the Tasmac outlet opened,” Hari claimed.

Anbu, another resident of Venkatesa Muthu Gramani Street said, “All of us were proud that we lived on such a quiet street that has all facilities including clinics and so many temples. However, everything has turned upside down now that the crowds of the Tasmac outlet have taken over the street.”

Due to this, he added, “No one ventures outside the home or lets their children to play outside after 6:30 pm because of the fear of getting into trouble with the inebriated men hanging around in the area.”

The Tasmac official when contacted refused to comment on the issue.