Queues and chaos at many Tasmac outlets amid ₹10 price hike, shop closure rumours

A Tasmac outlet in Koyambedu witnessed long queues as fake news of uncertainty over the functioning of liquor outlets spread all over social media on Monday. | Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ

Despite the rain on Monday, hundreds of tipplers stood in queue for hours at Tasmac outlets across Chennai and neighbouring districts, fearing that more liquor shops could down their shutters. Salesmen at many outlets said they struggled to control the restless crowd.

On Sunday, many Tasmac shops pulled shutters down without informing the management. The reason: Tasmac had said last week that it will increase the maximum retail price (MRP) of all liquor variants in the State by ₹10 with effect from November 1 by adding an environment cess to the existing price. And tipplers can get this ₹10 reimbursed by returning the empty liquor bottles.