More than 150 liquor outlets located in close proximity to educational institutions and places of worship have been shut across Tamil Nadu following directives issued by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. Sources said that around 50 shops were shut on May 12, followed by another 50 outlets on May 13 and an additional 50 on May 14. Employees associated with the process said that shop closure is not a simple exercise of shutting operations and vacating the premises. They pointed out that it involves a detailed procedure, including shifting existing stock to the godown and completing the necessary financial and administrative formalities, including submission of accounts.
The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited, known as Tasmac, has compiled and segregated details of shops to be closed under multiple categories including district, shop number and the administrative area under which the outlet falls — corporation, municipality, town panchayat or village panchayat. Additional parameters such as the distance of the shop from bus stands, places of worship and educational institutions, along with average daily sales in terms of cases sold and revenue generated per day, have also been taken into consideration.
