People relieved as 500 liquor shops shut

TASMAC closed down 500 liquor retail vending shops across the state on Thursday.

- S GURUVANMIKANATHAN

However, the corporation is yet to initiate the major processes of relocating materials and liquor stocks to other shops and godowns since it allows a seven-day period for this transition. The corporation has, however, started transferring liquor from smaller shops situated in rural areas to the respective district offices. Meanwhile, employees working in these shops have urged the government to give them jobs in other departments.

Welcoming the closure of outlets, M Chitra, a 32-year-old resident of Mylapore, said, “Out of the three Tasmac outlets functioning here, two were closed on Thursday. Although this is a welcome move, we expected all the three to be shut. During rush hour, students, working women and many others faced difficulties crossing the streets where the shops were located, and had to take alternative routes even to reach their houses. On some occasions, those who came to buy liquor parked their two-wheelers in front of our houses. The closure of these outlets has brought a significant relief to many of us.”