Madurai tipplers upset as no PoS, favourites missing

The reopening of Tasmac shops has brought smiles back on many a tippler’s face. However, in Madurai, the palpable joy among alcohol consumers was damped by lack of point of sale machines and low stock of preferred brands. 

A jubilant consumer, D Ramesh from Kochadai, welcoming the resumption of liquor sale, said the government made all precautionary measures on expected lines, but lack of ‘point of sale’ machines is a bit of concern. Since many ATMs ran out of cash, it’s difficult to purchase liquor from the shops. 

Except for quarter bottles, which mostly seemed unbranded, full liquor bottles were branded. Since instructions were keenly followed, consumers of varying age were allowed through counters accordingly. 

It’s the foremost reason that Tasmac shops were not crowded, Ramesh added. M Muthu Kumar, a consumer from Sammatipuram, said preferred brands were not available and they are expected by tomorrow. 

“There’s an increase in price of Rs 10 at low range quarter bottle and Rs 20 at medium and premium range quarter bottle,” Muthu said. “Sale of brandy, whiskey and gin wound up at 3 pm and in the next two-hour beer bottles were sold out,” said T Pandithurai, salesman from a shop at Samanatham. 

Interestingly, consumers seemed well disciplined as many of them maintained social distancing. Some of them carried umbrellas at Arasaradi shops to withstand the harsh sun. 

Police evicted a couple of consumers found without face mask from the line outside a shop near Anna bus stand. Meanwhile, protests erupted against the reopening in Sellur and Palanganatham. 

In Sellur, some residents downed the shutters of the outlet all of a sudden. Officials pacified them and reopened it.