TASMAC SCRAPS 'SPECIAL ORDER' LIQUOR SYSTEM

TAMIL Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) has temporarily scrapped the 'special order' system, which allowed Tasmac district managers to place orders from distilleries or breweries based on stock availability in its depots or godowns rather than data from retail outlets on the sale of liquor varieties.

- S GURUVANMIKANATHAN @ Chennai

This comes after allegations were raised about certain distilleries being favoured over others even when the demand for their brands was not high among customers.

Tasmac sources said it has now been decided to procure liquor based on actual sales recorded in retail outlets. Importantly, the move comes days after extensive raids by the Enforcement Directorate in Tasmac offices and outlets across the state, which, according to the central agency, has unearthed a "well-orchestrated scheme" of corruption. In Tamil Nadu, most of the distilleries and breweries are run by people with political affiliations, sources said.