Chennai: Liquor buyers across Tamil Nadu may have to switch to digital payments for purchases exceeding ₹1,000 from Nov 1 and ₹500 from Jan 1, 2027, as the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) plans to phase out cash transactions beyond these limits for a single buy at its retail outlets.
The present move, covering around 4,048 Tasmac liquor outlets across the state, too is aimed at reducing cash handling, preventing accounting discrepancies and addressing complaints of consumers being charged above the maximum retail price (MRP). Outlets have been directed to display notices informing customers about the payment restrictions and providing the toll-free complaint number, 1800 889 2015. Any fault in a PoS machine must be reported immediately to senior officials, and the time and duration of the disruption must be recorded. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai Stay updated with the latest Chennai news.
To ensure that sales personnel do not frustrate the latest order, Tasmac has instructed district managers to ensure that the corporation’s official bank-linked point-of-sale (PoS) machines are available at all retail outlets. Shop supervisors have also been directed to inform district managers promptly about internet, server or machine failures. The corporation has prohibited employees from collecting sales proceeds through their personal UPI QR codes or bank accounts, or through any other unauthorised QR code or bank account. Employees violating the instruction will face strict disciplinary action. The latest directive could also revive an expectation among liquor buyers that has remained largely unfulfilled — receiving a bill for every purchase. Tasmac has reiterated that every sale must be accompanied by a bill and that no outlet should collect an amount exceeding the sum printed on it. Tasmac has also urged its customers to make use of the online liquor advance-booking facility to pay electronically and collect their purchases in person from the selected outlet. Download the TOI App.
The latest order has come after the failure of Tasmac’s earlier attempts to make QR code-based payments and other measures to prevent its staff from collecting amounts in excess of MRP.