TN government rules out liquor prohibition

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government, which relies heavily on revenue from liquor sales which has touched around Rs 15,000 crore, today ruled out introducing Prohibition, saying it would not only benefit individuals, but also anti-social elements."The Chief Minister (J Jayalalithaa) is well aware of the problems relating to consumption of alcohol. But if Prohibition is implemented, the Rs 15,000 crore revenue will reach the hands of anti-social elements," Minister for Prohibition and Excise, R Viswanathan, said.Replying to the debate in the Assembly on the grants for his department, he said none of the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu had Prohibition regime and suggested Centre could implement nation-wide Prohibition, and that too after compensating the states for the revenue loss.By not implementing Prohibition, with liquor sales nationalised in the State, the government had ensured that the revenue that could be earned by anti-social elements, apparently the illicit liquor lobby, was being diverted to the State coffers, Viswanathan said.Chief Minister Jayalalalithaa herself took a dig on the demand for Prohibition in the State, saying those who were doing so were involved in selling illicit liquor.In 2010-11, liquor sales in Tamil Nadu and the tax on that had earned the State a revenue of around Rs 14,965 crore, making it a major revenue grosser. .The Jayalalithaa government had in 2003 nationalised sale of alcohol and entrusted the task to the state-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) which now runs over 6,500 retail outlets.Viswanathan also announced new initiatives for his department for the year 2011-12, including the increase in the number of dry days in the State, when the sale of liquor is banned, from five days to eight. Viswanathan said the Independence Day, Republic Day and May Day have been added to the list of dry days.Presently, dry days in Tamil Nadu include Tiruvallur Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Meelad-un-Nabi, Mahaveer Jayanti and the death anniversary of Vallalar, a Tamil saint.