In yet another “win” for the Dravidian Model government, a video has surfaced online showing an employee at a government-run TASMAC liquor outlet in Thiruvennainallur, Villupuram district, allegedly charging ₹10 more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for a bottle of alcohol. The clip has quickly gained traction on social media.
Residents have long reported that this particular TASMAC shop, located in the Thiruvennainallur town panchayat area, consistently adds extra charges of ₹10 for a quarter bottle and ₹15 for a beer bottle beyond the listed price.
In the viral video, a customer questions the staff after being asked to pay ₹240 for a quarter bottle that is priced at ₹230. In response, the employee dismissively claims there’s nothing anyone can do about it, sparking public outrage.
குவாட்டருக்கு Extra காசு தரணும்… டாஸ்மாக் ஊழியர் அடாவடி செய்த வீடியோ இணையத்தில் வைரல்.!#Viluppuram #TASMAC #ViralVideo #TamilNews #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/gA0nTmZIts
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) June 24, 2025
Such overpricing appears to have become a routine issue in several government-run TASMAC shops. Despite mounting video evidence and frequent complaints, authorities including DMK ministers responsible for the Prohibition and Excise Department often deny the allegations.
This persists even though the judiciary has issued clear directives on the matter. In a 2020 ruling, the court mandated that TASMAC must sell liquor strictly at MRP. It imposed a fine of ₹1,000 for every rupee charged above MRP, capped at ₹9,000 plus GST. Furthermore, if overcharging exceeds ₹30, both the involved employee and the shop supervisor must be suspended immediately.
Despite these strict rules and penalties, the illegal practice of overcharging continues unabated, raising concerns over enforcement and accountability in state-run liquor sales.
In April 2025, a viral video of a foreign tourist being overcharged at a Chennai TASMAC outlet reignited scrutiny over pricing irregularities under the supervision of Tamil Nadu’s Prohibition and Excise Minister Senthil Balaji. The tourist was charged ₹180 for a beer with an MRP of ₹140, with staff casually admitting to inflated pricing, citing the presence of an attached bar.
This incident echoes long-standing complaints about overcharging and lack of price transparency at TASMAC outlets, often operating without displayed rate cards or functioning billing systems. The controversy follows ongoing ED investigations into a ₹1,000 crore TASMAC scam and a critical CAG report highlighting issues such as non-functional PoS machines, irregular tenders, and unpaid excise duties. Despite mounting evidence, overcharging remains widespread, suggesting systemic corruption and administrative negligence.
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