CHENNAI: Bars attached to Tasmac liquor shops across Tamil Nadu will be shut as their licences expired on June 30. The state has warned of strict action against anyone found consuming liquor in public.“We have decided to close the bars as their licences have not been extended. They will reopen only after fresh tenders are floated and finalised,” prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh told TOI.Tasmac operates 4,765 liquor retail outlets across the state, of which around 2,400 have attached bars run by private licensees. These bars primarily serve snacks and soft drinks alongside liquor purchased from the retail outlets. “The annual revenue from bars is only Rs 130 crore, but the issue is that people will start drinking in public,” said a Tasmac official.The current two-year licences were issued in January 2024. Although they were due to expire in January this year, they were extended until the end of June in view of the assembly elections. With that extension ending on June 30, all licensed bars have ceased operations. “We will coordinate with the police to ensure people do not consume liquor in public places. Strict action will be taken against violators,” the minister said.
