Vijay moved to tighten liquor regulations in Tamil Nadu days after taking office, with his government boosting the legal drinking age of 21 and directing stricter checks at TASMAC outlets across the state. The move comes soon after the Vijay government ordered the closure of 717 TASMAC liquor shops located near temples, educational institutions and bus stops, in what is seen as one of the administration’s first major policy interventions aimed at reducing access to alcohol and promoting public welfare.
The Tamil Nadu government has directed employees at all Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets to strictly check the age of customers and refuse to sell alcoholic beverages to those below the legal drinking age. Identity proof, including Aadhaar cards, will be checked in cases where a customer’s age is in doubt, officials said.
Senior TASMAC officials said the state government is simultaneously considering reducing the operating hours of liquor shops. TASMAC outlets currently operate from 12 noon to 10 pm, but officials indicated that the proposal to advance the closing time to 8 pm is under consideration.
Liquor sales in Tamil Nadu remain one of the largest sources of revenue in the state. In 2025, TASMAC recorded the value of alcoholic beverage sales $48,344 crore, making it the second highest grossing division after Records.
717 TASMAC outlets will be closed within two weeks
The stricter implementation of the age rule comes soon after Vijay ordered the closure of 717 TASMAC liquor outlets located within 500 meters of places of worship, educational institutions and bus stops across the state.
According to the Tamil Nadu government, TASMAC currently operates 4,765 liquor retail outlets. Following an audit ordered by the Prime Minister, the authorities identified hundreds of shops operating near sensitive public places.
The government said that 276 liquor outlets located near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions and 255 near bus stations will be closed during the next two weeks. Post the closures, the total number of TASMAC stores in Tamil Nadu will come down to 4,048.
Read also: Why did CM Vijay order the closure of 717 shops run by TASMAC?
An official statement said the decision was taken taking into account the “public interest.” The lockdowns are among the first major administrative decisions taken by Vijay after becoming chief minister.
The move is seen as part of the TVK government’s attempt to show a tougher stance on the availability of alcohol and drug use. Vijay’s party, Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), had promised in its election manifesto that it would work to make Tamil Nadu “drug-free”.
One of the first big decisions that Vijay took after taking oath
The crackdown on TASMAC outlets came just days after Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10 after the Assembly elections.
The actor-turned-politician has emerged as the face of a new coalition government after TVK failed to secure a majority on its own in the 234-member assembly. With the party needing outside support to form the government, Vijay then faced a crucial test in the Assembly.
Ahead of the confidence vote, Vijay also met former Prime Minister and DMK chief Stalin at his residence in Chennai in what was described as a courtesy call, even as political tensions continued between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK.
Vijay wins the crucial floor test
Vijay eventually won the vote of confidence in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with the support of 144 MLAs, comfortably crossing the majority mark required to prove his government’s strength in the House.
Apart from TVK legislators, the government received support from Congress, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, VCK and AMMK legislators, along with a rebel faction of the AIADMK led by SP Velumani.
After winning the floor test, Vijay asserted that his administration would remain “secular” and claimed that his government would work at the “speed of a horse”. He also said that all welfare schemes introduced by previous governments would continue under the TVK administration.
However, the DMK staged a walkout during the confidence vote proceedings, with opposition leaders claiming that minor parties supported the TVK government only to avoid imposing President’s rule in the state.
