Ahead of the Deebavali festival, companies nationwide give their employees sweets and festive crackers. However, the DMK government of Tamil Nadu has unveiled an unconventional Deebavali gift for its “kudimagans” (citizens) – new types of beer.
Towards the fag end of October 2023, media reports noted that TASMAC has decided to introduce premium beer brands namely – Bira, Godfather, Geist, Thunderbolt.
A few days back, ahead of Deebavali, the brand “Thunderbolt Strong” was introduced across TASMAC outlets at a price of ₹160. More varieties of new beer bottles are slated to be introduced by December 2023.
Hitherto, TASMAC only sold beers produced from those breweries located inside Tamil Nadu. However, it will now buy beer (including beer bottles, pints and cans) from other states and sell it here.
So far, TASMAC had sold beers produced by Accord Distilleries (owned by DMK MP Jagathrakshakan), United Breweries, SNJ Distilleries (S. N. Jayamurugan, is the Chairman and Managing Director who was the producer films penned by DMK patriarch Karunanidhi) and Kals Distelleries.
Madhya Pradesh-based SOM group has established a distillery near Gummidipoondi and will be producing new beer varieties Hunter, Woodpecker and Powercool.
TASMAC is also in the process of introducing “fresh beer” with less alcoholic content.
The move to roll out new varieties of beer has invited criticism as the Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin who did not extend Deebavali wishes owing to his “rationalism” principle, is running a government that leverages Hindu festivals to bolster the revenue of the state-run TASMAC.
Coimbatore South MLA, Vanathi Srinivasan, took to Twitter to express her disapproval of the Tamil Nadu government’s unusual Diwali gift of two new types of beer. In a series of tweets, Vanathi Srinivasan questioned the timing and intent behind this unexpected offering.
“Diwali is a festival of tradition, culture, and joy. Surprising to see the government’s decision to introduce new beer varieties during this auspicious time. Is this the right way to celebrate our festivals?” she tweeted.
Vanathi Srinivasan further raised concerns about the potential implications of this move, particularly in light of rumors about additional beer varieties slated for release in December. “Are we witnessing a subtle shift towards prohibition, or is this merely a revenue-boosting tactic? The people of Tamil Nadu deserve clarity on the government’s long-term plans,” she added.
The Coimbatore South MLA also criticized the absence of Diwali wishes from the Chief of the ruling DMK party, emphasizing the need for inclusive celebrations.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.