RANIPET: Tasmac workers from 130 outlets across Thanjavur district shut their shops and staged a protest on Friday as part of a statewide protest demanding the withdrawal of the order requiring them to collect and store empty liquor bottles.

The protesting employees, who assembled in front of the Tasmac Managers’ Office near the SIDCO complex in Thanjavur, said the department had instructed them to collect the empty bottles and take responsibility for their storage.

They said the additional duty was affecting their routine work and causing frustration. They appealed to the government to withdraw the order and allow private parties to handle the collection of empty bottles.

The employees also alleged that they faced punishment when they collected additional amounts as instructed by officials. They further demanded that the State government bear the rental costs of Tasmac shops and other facilities, saying this would help them avoid collecting additional charges for bottles.

The strike greatly affected tipplers who waited for hours in front of closed liquor shops, hoping they would open soon. In Ranipet, customers waited for hours despite being informed about the strike. In Tiruvarur, tipplers rushed to places where liquor was available, scaled walls to enter recreational clubs, leading to traffic chaos. Police ultimately had to shut down the clubs as it disrupted normalcy.