Minister for Housing, Prohibition and Excise S. Muthusamy, on Wednesday (October 22, 2025), clarified that the increase in liquor sales during the Deepavali festival was due to holiday demand and not because of any special measures taken by the government.
Speaking to mediapersons at the Collectorate, the Minister said that the government had not initiated any additional steps to boost liquor sales through TASMAC outlets. “Every year, sales rise during festival season, which is a normal trend. The government does not make any extra effort to increase sales,” he said.
He added that the State was steadily implementing measures to reduce and eventually close down liquor shops and to help people overcome drinking habit. “Since such habits cannot be changed merely through legislation, the government is taking gradual and people-oriented efforts,” he said.
The Minister pointed out that the sales were high only on the Deepavali holiday and remained low on other days, which he described as a positive sign.
He said the ₹10 collected per liquor bottle is directly credited to the government’s bank account, ensuring that the money cannot be misused. The deposit is being collected as per court orders, adding that it is being wrongly portrayed as an additional charge.
Published – October 23, 2025 07:55 pm IST
