Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s first signature move after returning to power on May 23 was to shut the 500 state-owned liquor outlets. But what she is unaware of is the amount of ire it has generated amongst the serial tipplers within the state.
Adding to that, is her order to reduce the business hours of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets by two hours. While this is just the beginning, tipplers are not able to cope with this immediate directive.
A day after the new diktat, on Tuesday, the usually crowded TASMAC outlets saw a disappointed lot, eagerly waiting for the liquor shop to open. They were frustrated that they had to wait for at least three hours to buy liquor.
As soon as the gates opened, there was a quite a push and shove to reach the delivery window first. The habitual drinkers say that a day without liquor is no good. Some of them even say they would rather die than quit drinking.
“I’ve been waiting from 8 AM. I drink because I can sleep well. I’m a painter and only if I drink I can work. Only if I drink, I can digest my food. If they close all the liquor shops, I’ll make arrack and consume it,” said a painter.
“In Tamil Nadu, they cannot close the liquor shops. They will somehow sell liquor illegally. If they close all the shops, we will go to Andhra or Puducherry to drink. The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for a quarter of alcohol is Rs 92 but illegally we have to pay an additional Rs 30 over it. Even if they close the liquor shops, we will buy it in black,” added another tippler.
No Booze, No Vote
Spotting a woman outside a liquor shop in Tamil Nadu will surely raise a lot of eyebrows. But there was an angry woman labourer, too, at an outlet. “My hands will start shivering if I don’t drink. I’ve been waiting from 9 AM. If they close all the liquor shops, we will die. I won’t cast my vote to parties that would implement prohibition,” she said.
The liquor shops are not just confined to the people of Tamil Nadu. Tipplers from other states also queue up outside the shops.
A person from Bihar, who has been residing in Tamil Nadu for many years, says that complete prohibition in his state wasn't working. He further added that he could still buy liquor illegally in Bihar. “I can work only if I drink. I’ll die if I can’t drink. In Bihar, they still sell liquor. It is expensive but it doesn’t matter because we need to drink to earn a living,” he said.
DMK has already called Jaya's decision an eyewash. DMK Spokesperson A Saravanan said, “She said she will shut 500 outlets. Where is the blueprint? This is just a gimmick. Her order hasn’t had an impact on the alcoholics yet.”
While the state government is busy working on choosing the 500 shops that will be shut, CNN-News18 has learnt that Liquor outlets located near places of worship and schools will be the first ones to go.
But TASMAC officials say that sales have doubled over the last two days and Jaya's move has not affected the demand for liquor.
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