Just days after being sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, actor-turned-politician Vijay has directed officials to shut down 717 liquor retail outlets located within 500 metres of temples, schools, colleges, and bus stands across the state.

According to an official notification, the closures must be completed within two weeks. The Tamil Nadu Department of Information and Public Relations described the move as a public welfare measure aimed at restricting liquor shops near sensitive public spaces and crowded areas.

ALSO READ

What did the official notification say?

The official notification stated: “In the interest of public welfare, Honorable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru. S. Joseph Vijay has ordered the closure within two weeks of 717 liquor retail sales outlets located up to 500 meters from places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands.”

According to an official release cited by ANI, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) currently operates 4,765 retail liquor outlets across the state. Following the Chief Minister’s directive, authorities conducted a review to identify shops located within 500 metres of the specified public places.

ALSO READ

The survey identified a total of 717 TASMAC outlets located within the restricted zone, including 276 shops near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions, and 255 near bus stands. TASMAC currently operates 4,765 retail liquor outlets across Tamil Nadu.

TASMAC remains a major revenue source for the TN govt 

While TASMAC outlets remain a major revenue source for the Tamil Nadu government, political parties have long demanded the closure of liquor shops in sensitive locations. The corporation has also faced scrutiny from central agencies. Last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at multiple locations as part of a probe into alleged offences linked to TASMAC and associated entities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to a report by The Indian Express.

This decision marks one of the first major policy actions by the new Chief Minister, signaling a focus on public welfare and regulation of liquor sales in the state.