Liquor outlets operated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) remained closed across several parts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, November 1, after contract workers staged an unannounced protest against the state government’s new bottle collection and digital payment regulations. The disruption left liquor consumers waiting outside shops and bars, while the state government warned employees of disciplinary action, including suspension, for failing to report for duty.
The protest follows TASMAC’s implementation of a mandatory empty liquor bottle collection scheme and revised payment rules aimed at curbing maximum retail price (MRP) violations. Under the new arrangement, an additional ₹10 environmental cess has been included in the MRP, which was previously collected separately. The corporation has also restricted cash payments to ₹1,000 per transaction, encouraging digital payments for purchases exceeding that amount.
TASMAC workers’ unions claimed that employees decided independently not to open the outlets because of operational difficulties and unresolved payment-related issues. Workers alleged that the new system was introduced without adequate preparation. According to a TASMAC supervisor, liquor bottles must be scanned three times during the sales and empty-bottle return process, making transactions time-consuming. Employees also reported slow handheld scanners, software problems and difficulties arranging ₹10 notes and coins for customer reimbursements.
The shutdown caused significant disruption on Sunday, traditionally one of the busiest days for liquor sales in Tamil Nadu. TASMAC reportedly records average daily sales of around ₹165 crore, which can increase to approximately ₹265 crore on Sundays. Several outlets that initially opened were reportedly forced to close because of large crowds and technical problems.
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Consumers were among the worst affected, with some turning to recreational clubs, where customers complained of being charged substantially higher prices for liquor. Police also seized liquor bottles sold at a TASMAC-attached bar in Saidapet.
The disruption has intensified the debate over the implementation of Tamil Nadu’s liquor retail reforms, particularly the operational challenges associated with bottle collection, environmental cess and digital payment compliance.
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