Tamil Nadu has revised the rules governing Tasmac liquor shops and attached bars, allowing bars to operate either next to a retail outlet or within 100 metres of it while permitting private parties to run them through a tender process. The amendments were notified last week and also revise location restrictions, licensing formats and operating safeguards across the state.
Under the new rules, the Tasmac board, with prior approval from the commissioner of prohibition and excise, will determine the upset price or upset percentage and other conditions for each tender. The managing director of Tasmac, or an officer authorised by the managing director, will be empowered to authorise the successful tenderer to operate the bar.
The tender amount collected from bar operators must be remitted to the state government by the 25th of the following month. Tasmac may retain one per cent of the amount as agency commission. The corporation has also recently extended bar-operation licences across Tamil Nadu by two months.
The revised rules retain restrictions on the location of liquor outlets. Tasmac shops and bars cannot be located within 50 metres of places of worship and educational institutions in corporations and municipalities, or within 100 metres in other areas. The restriction, however, will not apply to places classified as commercial or industrial by development or town-planning authorities.
Bars cannot be established on hotel premises or in tribal areas covered by the Integrated Tribal Development Project. The restrictions also cover hill areas under the Hill Area Development Project in Vellore, Salem, Namakkal, Dindigul, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts.
Tasmac shops and bars will continue to operate from noon to 10pm daily. The rules prohibit the sale of liquor to anyone below 21 years of age and bar people under 21 from entering, consuming liquor or working in shops and bars. Sellers may request government-issued proof of age when they have doubts about a customer’s eligibility.
The amendments require shops and bars to display signboards in Tamil showing their authorisation details. Retail outlets must also display liquor prices. Warnings in Tamil and English stating that alcohol consumption is injurious to health and urging people not to drink and drive must be displayed at the premises.
The government has replaced earlier formats for licences, authorisations, sales bills, daily stock reports, sale transaction reports and inspection books with revised forms. The changes place the tendering and authorisation process within a more formal administrative framework while leaving operating hours and age restrictions unchanged.
