Tamil Nadu increases legal limit of storing alcohol at homes

Did you know that keeping that second bottle of local whisky at home was illegal? Relax and say cheers now: The Tamil Nadu government has increased the legal limit of storing alcohol at homes to 12 bottles (750ml) of hard liquor, six each of Indian-made foreign liquor and imported spirits.

According to the norms revised by the state commissionerate of prohibition and excise this June, you may also stock 12 bottles of beer (650ml) and an equal number of bottles of wine at home.

The new high kicked in after an amendment to the Tamil Nadu Alcohol (Possession for Personal Consumption) Rules, 1996.

So far, people in Tamil Nadu were permitted to keep at home only one 750ml bottle of IMFL and one bottle of imported alcohol, besides two bottles of beer and a bottle of wine. Not many , however, have been aware of such `per missible limits'. “The rules were not amended for more than two dec ades,“ a senior official in the commissionerate told TOI. “The rules have been amended keeping with those in other states.“

Yet Tamil Nadu hasn't caught up with its neighbour Karnataka. A person in Karnataka can keep at home 24 bottles of hard liquor (whisky , rum, gin, vodka) and 28 bottles of beer.

The government may not come to inspect your bar cabinet, but if you exceed the limit, you can be booked under the Tamil Nadu Liquor Prohibition Act, 1937, said an official at the state prohibition enforcement wing. The penalty can be a minimum of Rs 2,000 fine, which can go up depending on the quantity of liquor you have stashed up.

The official also clarified that these rules were applicable only for liquor stocked at residential complexes and not for those being transported on wheels.