Tamil Nadu Assembly Debates Liquor Policy and Total Prohibition

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly in Chennai witnessed a heated exchange between ministers and opposition MLAs over total prohibition, liquor procurement, and MRP violations at retail shops.

The discussion began when PMK MLA Sowmiya Anbumani called for total prohibition while welcoming the closure of 717 liquor shops by the TVK government. She stated that many families lose their primary earners and young members to liquor addiction, arguing that ending the issue requires only a single signature.

Responding to the demand, Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna stated that previous administrations had never genuinely considered implementing prohibition, dismissing past efforts as mere lip service.

The minister noted that western districts recorded high liquor sales because a significant portion of the population belongs to marginalised communities, leading to addiction developing over time. He stated that total prohibition cannot be practically achieved with just a signature and instead requires a comprehensive rehabilitation programme, which the TVK government is currently preparing on a war footing.

Aadhav Arjuna also criticised the previous DMK administration, alleging that a former minister had justified alcohol consumption among the working class as a way to recover from daily manual labour. Additionally, he accused the DMK government of issuing manufacturing licences to its own party treasurer and a Member of Parliament, while forcing buyers to purchase the liquor produced by those entities.