Chennai: Tamil Nadu might go the Bihar way after the Assembly election in May. All major Dravidian parties including the ruling AIADMK of J Jayalalithaa have promised prohibition, if they are voted to power. Some say, it will be done in a phased manner and the others say there will be a total ban on sale and consumption of liquor.
Ironically, according to the Excise Department data, liquor sale at government run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) outlets have gone up by 20% in April. It seems the tipplers are not ready to cut down on drinking to prepare themselves for the dreaded "dry" days or years post May even as leaders promise the ban.
Alcoholics across Tamil Nadu are beating the scorching heat by gulping down bottles of beer. According to a report in "The Hindu" that is why after two years, beer sales at The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited have gone up by 20%.
TASMAC, the cash cow of the state, has more than 6,000 outlets across Tamil Nadu where more than 70 lakh people consume liquor. Of this, more than 2,300 outlets sell beer.
After Dr. Anbumani Ramdoss led PMK promised a total ban, Jayalalithaa also followed suit. She promised a ban in a phased manner. Not wanting to be left behind in the highly competitive populist politics of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi's DMK has also joined the prohibition brigade.
Are the people drinking more when it is still not a crime? After May they may have to go behind the bars directly from a bar.
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