Tamil NaduSunday, 7 June 2026·The Hindu - Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu’s 717 TASMAC shop closures: key facts on phased liquor outlet shutdowns
Tamil Nadu closed around 717 liquor shops on May 12, 2026, adding to earlier phased closures in 2016, 2017 and 2023.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In May 2026, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay ordered the closure of around 717 TASMAC liquor shops near schools and places of worship across the State, continuing a phased policy seen in 2016, 2017 and 2023.
Key specifics
- May 12, 2026: around 717 liquor shops were ordered shut across Tamil Nadu.
- 2016: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced prohibition in phases and closed around 500 shops.
- 2017: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced closure of another 500 shops.
- 2023: Minister V. Senthil Balaji told the Assembly that 500 more TASMAC retail outlets would be closed.
- Velachery in Chennai and Karanodai in Tiruvallur district were cited as local examples of the closure impact.
Exam lens
Question type: Tamil Nadu governance and policy chronology, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2026, TASMAC closures, C. Joseph Vijay, Jayalalithaa, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, V. Senthil Balaji. TNPSC may ask which Chief Minister announced phased liquor-shop closures and how many outlets were mentioned in each phase.