Chennai:
Liquor procurement has gone hi-tech in Tamil Nadu. Automated liquor vending has been completed at four government-owned shops inside malls in Chennai. Online payment or cash can be done at these places. Although the decision is taken despite being questioned and it is said that the vending machine will make it easier for minor students to buy liquor. Speaking to NDTV, AIADMK spokesperson Kovi Sathyan said that how is the age of these vending machines recognized as liquor is for people above 18 years? It is not for the state to look for new avenues of liquor sale to increase revenue.
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On the whole issue, the state government has said that the vending machines will be manned by salespeople to prevent use by minors. Also, the system will prevent overcharging by salespeople, which is a major complaint of people in the state.
Prohibition and Excise Minister Senthil Balaji said that the shop opens at 12 noon. The machine can be used only in the presence of salesperson there. When NDTV team reached a liquor shop in VR Mahal to understand the matter, the vending machine was close to the entrance and the salesperson inside could not see it directly. This does not rule out apprehensions of use of vending machines by minors.
It is alleged that last year, the Tamil Nadu government earned Rs 44,000 crore from the sale of liquor. The ruling DMK government had promised a phased prohibition. He had said that 96 liquor vends have been closed and 500 more are likely to be closed soon. It alleged that state after state protected and increased the sale of liquor in Tamil Nadu, arguing that prohibition was a trap of smugglers.
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