More than a hundred TASMAC outlets along the state and national highways in Coimbatore have closed down, following the recent Madras High Court order that liquor outlets dotting highways within 500 metres should either be closed down or relocated. According to TASMAC District Manager (South) ( who dont want to be named) a total of 71 shops out of the total 123 shops have been closed down and more or less the same numbers were closed down in North district of TASMAC. But CovaiPost has found that despite closure clandestine sale continues at some places.

In the wake of this, Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise R Kirloshkumar sent out a communiqué to all District Collectors to ensure that no liquor outlets functioned along highways from April 1.

When Covaipost checked on the compliance level in Coimbatore North and South districts, it was evident that a considerable number of shops were closed down. While shop No 1656 in Puliyakulam, No 1697 in Damu Nagar, No 1700 in Ramanathapuram and No 1651 in Nanjundapuram had downed shutters, clandestine sale was continuing unabated near the TASMAC shop in Nanjundapuram. Tipplers continued to throng the place.

TASMAC shops Pothanur and Kaikadai along State highway 162 were also closed down.

In Coimbatore, over a 100 shops have been closed and some are to be shifted.

In all, around 504 TASMAC outlets in Tamilnadu were notified to be closed down or relocated as they occurred in National and State Highways in Tamilnadu.