Tamil Nadu government yesterday made an announcement that stand-alone Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) shops within Chennai City limits can be reopened from August 18, Tuesday. The TASMAC shops must do business between 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.

It has also been said that the TASMAC shops inside malls and containment zones will remain shut. The per day sales of liquor must be limited to 500 tokens per shop, and people visiting liquor shops must wear face masks and follow social distancing rules as per government guidelines. TASMAC shops will not function on Sundays, during complete lockdown.

Following a strict lockdown for more than 75 days, TASMAC shops outside Chennai City limits were allowed to open from May 7 and as Chennai had increasing number of Coronavirus cases, the government decided to keep the state-run TASMAC shops located inside Chennai closed.