Chennai , 08 July (H.S.) : The Tamil Nadu government is preparing to revise the retail prices of liquor and beer sold through state-run TASMAC outlets, with a final decision expected within the next two days. If the proposal receives approval, consumers are likely to pay higher prices from next week.

The proposed revision is expected to cover a wide range of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands, including whisky, brandy, rum and vodka, besides beer. Officials said the increase could range from ₹10 to ₹50 per bottle depending on the category and brand.

The move comes after liquor manufacturers and beer producers repeatedly urged the government to revise retail prices, citing higher production and distribution costs. Industry representatives have also pointed to the additional surcharge imposed by the state on every carton of IMFL and beer supplied to TASMAC, saying it has significantly increased operating expenses.

A final decision is expected at a high-level meeting scheduled either today or tomorrow, after which the government is likely to make an official announcement. If approved, this would be the first increase in liquor prices in Tamil Nadu since February 1, 2024.

Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the state-owned monopoly retailer of alcoholic beverages, operates 4,048 liquor outlets across the state. The outlets collectively generate an average daily revenue of around ₹150 crore through the sale of IMFL, beer, wine and imported liquor, making alcohol one of the government's largest sources of revenue.

The proposal was discussed at a recent meeting of the TASMAC Management Board, although officials said the exact quantum of the increase is yet to be finalised.

The meeting also reportedly examined a proposal to allow private companies to participate in retail liquor sales in the future. However, the Finance Department is understood to have opposed the move, maintaining that private participation could reduce the state's revenue from liquor sales.

Officials said that if the proposal is cleared, the revised prices will be implemented simultaneously across all TASMAC outlets from next week.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman