Several FL2 licence holders in Tenkasi district have allegedly been selling liquor in retail by misusing permits granted to recreation clubs, according to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by activist S. Jameen.
Based on the RTI response, the State government has issued FL2 licences to 21 Manamahizh Mandrams, recreation or sports clubs or associations, across the district over the past two years. Of these, 13 FL2 licence holders and five FL3 licence holders were allegedly operating bars along State and National Highways.
As reported in The New Indian Express, Jameen stated that bars functioning under FL2 licences were permitted to serve liquor only to permanent members of registered recreation clubs. However, during field visits, he reported finding several such establishments openly selling liquor to members of the public, functioning effectively as retail outlets.
He further called for the removal of FL2 bars located along roadsides, noting that Tenkasi district already had 61 TASMAC retail liquor outlets in operation.
According to Jameen, many of the licences had allegedly been issued to politically influential individuals who had no connection with recreation, sports, or social associations. He alleged that in several cases the Manamahizh Mandrams existed only on paper while the premises were being run like regular retail liquor shops.
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In response to the RTI application, P. Ramachandran, Public Information Officer-cum-Assistant Commissioner (Excise), Tenkasi, stated that licences for 13 of the 21 Mandrams had been issued in 2025.
Jameen also claimed that several Mandrams, including one located on the Alangulam–Ambasamudram road, had been granted permission as recently as January and February 2026.
He further argued that the presence of 61 TASMAC shops in the district already provided sufficient retail access to liquor and that there was no necessity for mandram-based bars along highways.
The district manager of TASMAC, Tirunelveli, was not available for comment.
We had reported in February 2026 that there was reportedly a sharp increase in “Manamagizh Mandrams” (recreation clubs) in Tamil Nadu, with claims that licences are being misused to facilitate private liquor sales. Citing RTI data, Coimbatore-based advocate Loganathan stated that the number of such clubs had risen from 62 before 2010 to over 800, with a major increase after 2021. He alleged that around 600 outlets had received FL2 licences and were functioning like private wine shops. Loganathan further claimed the state could be losing significant revenue under the current system. Residents in Coimbatore also alleged that some clubs operate with fewer restrictions than TASMAC outlets.
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