Tamil Nadu to stop functioning of 500 liquor stores

Following an earlier government order, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation has declared that a total of 500 liquor stores will be shut down from 22nd June onwards.

Notably, the order was given by the now arrested DMK Minister V Senthil Balaji in April of this year, when he was in charge of excise. He has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering charges.

He had stated to the State Assembly of Tamil Nadu on 12th April that 500 liquor stores out of the 5,329 retail liquor outlets in the state (as of 31st March 2023) will be identified and closed.

Tasmac referred back to the Assembly declaration on the instructions of Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M K Stalin and stated that a government order dated 20th April 2023 was subsequently issued.