CHENNAI: Tipplers were made to run from pillar to post in the city on Tuesday as more than 200 liquor shops downed shutters in Chennai following protest by outlet salesmen opposing the implementation of the bottle buyback scheme here.
Following a High Court order, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac), the monopoly agency selling liquor in the State, has been implemented in more than 20 districts, except Chennai, since October 2025.
Salesmen at Tasmac outlets have been against the management's order, which forces staff to buy back and stock empty bottles, saying it will put intense pressure especially during the peak hours (7pm to 10pm).
Tamil Nadu Tasmac Employees' Association general secretary D Dhanasekaran told DT Next, "Of the 250 outlets in Chennai, 230 shops were closed to protest against the implementation of the scheme without providing additional facilities at the outlets, including space and extra staff", he said.
He said Tasmac authorities promised they had spoken to owners of the bars attached to the Chennai outlets to collect empty bottles.
"However, bar owners demanded the liquor outlets salesmen to pay extra for helping with the collection," he said, adding "accordingly, of the 250 liquor shops in Chennai, about 230 outlets were closed and we had a protest demonstration at Ambattur Tamac stock unit".
A Tasmac official said "as per the discussion between liquor outlet staff and higher officials, the buyback scheme is expected to be stalled till Pongal festival is over".
However, he noted that as per the court order, the buyback scheme will also be implemented in Chennai.
According to a senior Tasmac official, as per the discussion between liquor outlet staff and higher officials, the buyback scheme is expected to be stalled till Pongal is over
It may be noted that the Madras High Court had recently questioned why the Tasmac administration had not appointed additional staff to implement the bottle buyback scheme.
Under the scheme, a consumer pays an extra Rs 10 per bottle and receives a refund when he returns the empty bottle to the liquor outlet of Tasmac.