After the license expires, the poles attached to the Tasmac outlets are withdrawn all over Tamil Nadu

Tasmac has around 2,320 bars attached to its liquor retail outlets. | Photo credit: File photo

Bars attached to liquor retail outlets across Tamil Nadu have downed their shutters after their licenses expired on June 30, 2026, halting operations until further orders from the state government.

Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (Tasmac) has around 2,320 bars attached to its liquor retail outlets. According to K. Vignesh, Minister for Prohibition and Excise, discussions are on whether to extend the existing licenses or float a fresh tender. “The matter has to be brought before the board of trustees to take a decision,” he said.

A Tasmac source said a board meeting was expected on Thursday. The source added that the closure of the bars could result in a loss of ₹400 crore per month. “We have been told that new tenders will be announced and the government plans to introduce several changes to the new tender documents,” the source added.

Liquor store staff have expressed concerns that bar closures could lead to people consuming alcohol outside the stores, creating a public nuisance as many customers may not want to take their bottles home. “Adequate measures should be put in place to ensure that people are not harassed outside the shops,” said a shopkeeper in the Chennai region.

The bar operators’ licenses were issued in January 2024 and were originally scheduled to expire in January 2026. However, they were extended to June 2026 in view of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. A major revenue generator for the Tamil Nadu government, Tasmac currently operates 4,048 liquor retail outlets across the state. The state government’s cash cow generates around ₹ 150 crore in liquor sales daily through its retail network.

Published – 02 Jul 2026 05:30 IST