Breaking silence on the controversial subject of alcohol prohibition in the State, the Tamil Nadu Government has said that while it is not against the policy of prohibition of alcohol, it is not practical to impose it in the state. Excise Minister said it will lead to financial implications on the Government.
Further, the Tamil Nadu Government said that complete prohibition will breed anti-social elements in the state.
Defending the government’s stand, Excise Minister Natham Viswanathan said that there will be financial implications on the Government of Tamil Nadu if prohibition is imposed in the State.
The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the government arm which markets and sells alcohol in Tamil Nadu, earned profits worth Rs.18,081.61 crore in 2011-212 and it increased to Rs.21,680.67 crore in 2012-2013. The revenue further increased to Rs. 21,674.89 crore in 2013-2014 and it has reached to R.24,164.95 crore in 2014-2015.
Over the past few months, several opposition parties have protested against TASMAC liquor outlets across the state and demanded total prohibition, claiming they encourage alcoholism.
DMK Treasurer MK Stalin has also promised to implement total prohibition in Tamil Nadu if it comes to power after the 2016 assembly elections. "The DMK government had reintroduced prohibition while the AIADMK government reintroduced liquor in the state," he has said.
He had also claimed that the DMK government in the past had reduced the timings and the number of shops in the state.
However, the Tamil Nadu government has assured it will not promote alcohol consumption and will create awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption in the state.