Liquor to cost more in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Tipplers will have to shell out more to buy liquor from state-owned TASMAC outlets with the Tamil Nadu Cabinet on Wednesday giving its nod for the proposal to increase rates of various brands of liquor ranging from Rs10 to Rs 25.

 The increase in prices is intended to help with the increasing burden of additional expenditure to be incurred by the state government after it hiked the salaries of its employees across the board. 

 Sources said the decision taken by the Cabinet is likely to be implemented from next week and a formal order in this regard will be issued on Friday. “Though the Cabinet has approved the proposal, it is yet to be made formal. A formal order will be issued on Friday”, a senior official said.

 Sources said rates have been increased for brandy, whisky, rum and wine across all brands. They said an ordinary brand of brandy, which currently costs Rs 88 for 180 ml, would cost Rs 100 after the rate change comes into effect.    

The decision was criticised by several political parties who accused the government of going back on its promise of implementing prohibition in the state.    

Liquor price hike by state government criticised by political parties
“In similar manner, a medium brand of brandy, whisky, rum and wine which hitherto costs Rs 100 to Rs 110 and premium brands of these items which costs anywhere between Rs 100 to Rs 500 would cost an additional Rs 10 to Rs 25,” the sources said.

The decision was criticised by several political parties who accused the government of going back on its promise of implementing prohibition in the State. Opposition Leader M.K. Stalin said the increase in liquor prices was an example of how the government was contradicting itself on several issues. 

“The Government says it is committed to prohibition in the State and the same government promotes it by increasing its prices,” he said.