Tamil Nadu to shut 717 liquor shops near temples, schools, bus stands

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday ordered the closure of 717 liquor shops within two weeks for the welfare of the public, the newly-elected government said.

According to an official government release, of the 717 shops, 276 are located within 500 metres of places of worship, 186 near educational institutions, and 255 close to bus terminuses.

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The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) operates 4,765 retail liquor outlets across the state. Prohibition has been a long standing demand in Tamil Nadu, especially from women and some political parties. The closure order reflects a cross-party consensus, despite TASMAC liquor sales making up a large chunk of the state's revenue. In 2025, the total revenue from liquor sales exceeded ₹48,000 crore.

More importantly, the move is being seen as the first step towards fulfilling Vijay's promise of an "addiction-free" Tamil Nadu.

Vijay was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu along with nine cabinet ministers on Sunday. Soon after taking oath, he signed three files, one of which provided for 200 units of free electricity to domestic consumers using up to 500 units of electricity on a bi-monthly basis. He also ordered the setting up of a special force for women's safety and anti-drug trafficking units across the state.