The business of the booze

 

 

The one area where sworn rivals DMK and AIADMK would not mind sharing a common platform is liquor sales through the government-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets. Thanks to the golden eggs laying goose that the corporation is (it generates a whopping Rs.12,500 crore annually for the state exchequer), the DMK led government is able to go for various free schemes. From free colour television sets to rice at one rupee per kilogram, the government is on a populist path. It has also announced free concrete housing scheme recently for the poor.

Recently it was in the news that 39 new brands will be introduced and six new licenses would be given for setting up breweries. So when the government goes on adding more brands to its kitty by giving clear. The tipplers have every reason to rejoice. However, Kannan, the general manager of TASMAC, while talking to TSI gives a different view point. “The government has given many licenses for production of liquor brands. As of now, 352 brands of whiskey, brandy, wine, gin, vodka and beer are sold through our outlets. But of them only 110 brands are in existence. Companies introduce new brands every month and based on their sales, these brands thrive in the market. But I do not agree by the newspaper reports that about 39 new brands will be coming. The number may vary”

Tamil Nadu has 6700 retail shops where around 30,000 employees work. When recently these employees went for a strike asking for permanent jobs and other benefits, the government took serious measures to ensure that the tipplers were not affected. It made sure the liquor shops were opened. At many places the police were seen regulating the otherwise unruly crowd and helping in the sale.

After a few days the government also announced slight pay hike for the employees of TASMAC. But the increased sale of liquor in the state has also attracted public criticism. There are incidents of school children caught drunk. After requests for bringing prohibition from political parties like the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and other organisations, the chief minister decided to revise the timings of the shops. Recently, when the employees of TASMAC announced a strike, Karunanidhi threatened to bring prohibition in the state.

The debate whether to bring prohibition or not in the state and the ethical question of the state itself selling liquor to its masses is perennial. The tipplers have their own worries about the unhygienic conditions in the makeshift bars attached with the retail shops. But as long as the cash counters are busy, the government doesn't seem to worry about this.