Chennai

Replying to the debate on demand for grants for his department in the House, Senthilbalaji recalled the statement of his predecessor P Thangamani of AIADMK on online liquor sale and said the media reports have quoted the Managing Director as telling that liquor would be sold online.

“This government led by our Chief Minister MK Stalin has no plans to sell liquor online,” he categorically told the House, before adding that the prohibition enforcement wing which cracks down on illicit arrack and liquor smuggling has arrested 1.29 lakh people, including 11,822 women in 2021 to prevent spurious liquor, illicit arrack and smuggling of IMFL from other states.

The wing has seized Rs 2.29 crore worth 5.74 lakh liters of illicit arrack and Rs 1.27 crore worth 8.47 lakh liters of illicit liquor brewed in the state this year.

The Minister said this in response to Thangamani’s question on whether the government was planning to sell liquor online. Participating in the debate, Thangamani said the media has quoted the Tasmac managing director as saying that the government has plans to sell liquor online.

“If allowed, it would be a major embarrassment to women in the households. It would appear to onlookers as if they (women) are consuming,” said Thangamani, asking the incumbent DMK regime to emulate the AIADMK and reduce the number of Tasmac shops.The AIADMK MLA’s comment did not go unnoticed as Speaker M Appavu intervened and said, “At least that way, let drinking be reduced.”