CM Vijay’s First Big Move: 717 TASMAC Liquor Shops Near Schools and Temples Shut in Tamil Nadu Within Two Weeks

Tamil Nadu’s newly elected Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has wasted no time making good on one of his most talked-about campaign promises. Within days of assuming office, he signed an executive order directing the closure of 717 government-run TASMAC liquor shops — and the deadline? Just two weeks.

This isn’t a symbolic gesture. It’s a sweeping, immediate policy move that cuts to the heart of one of Tamil Nadu’s most contentious social debates: the proximity of state-run alcohol outlets to the places people hold most sacred — schools, temples, and bus stands.

CM Vijay’s TASMAC Closure Order

Why This Decision Matters

Currently, 4,765 retail liquor shops are being operated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation — making TASMAC one of the state’s biggest revenue generators. Yet for years, residents, parents, and religious communities have demanded action against outlets planted dangerously close to sensitive public spaces. Khaleej Times

The order specifically targets shops located within a 500-metre radius of educational institutions, places of worship, and major bus stands — locations identified as most vulnerable to the social harms of alcohol proximity. Vijay

For context, TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) holds a monopoly over retail liquor sales in the state, making this closure order all the more significant — the government is voluntarily shutting down its own revenue outlets in the interest of public welfare.

A Promise Kept — and a Wider Reform Agenda

Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), had promised stringent measures against alcohol and drug abuse in Tamil Nadu in its election manifesto. This order delivers on that pledge in the clearest possible terms. The Week

The move comes amid long-standing demands from various political parties and social organisations seeking the closure of liquor shops situated in sensitive public areas, despite TASMAC being a major source of revenue for the state government. The Week

Adding to the pressure on TASMAC, the Enforcement Directorate had conducted raids at multiple locations across Tamil Nadu as part of an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) involving TASMAC and related entities. The Week

For more on Tamil Nadu politics and governance developments, follow our India news and policy coverage and sports-politics intersection stories on TechnoSports.

What Comes Next?

With 717 closures ordered in two weeks and 4,765 total shops still running, this is clearly a first step rather than a full crackdown. The bigger question is whether CM Vijay will push for wider reform — or whether revenue pressures will slow down the momentum. Tamil Nadu is watching closely.

FAQs