CHENNAI: With the licence validity for bars attached to the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) liquor outlets getting over on Saturday, the state-owned liquor corporation has extended the licence period for another two months, citing delay in floating a new tenders.This is the fourth such extension of bar licence validity by Tasmac and the existing bar owners will complete one additional year on extension on Dec 31.There are 4,048 liquor vending shops in the state, nearly 2,500 of them have a bar attached including 650 in Chennai region. The bar licence allows them to sell snacks to those consuming liquor on their premises.However, many bars run in total violation in unhygienic conditions with poor toilets and ambience, apart from fleecing consumers by overcharging customers.Prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh promised better bars in the TVK govt and came up with regulations to set up bars 100 metres away from the liquor outlets. However, the tender has been inordinately delayed. “Finer details of the tender conditions are being worked out. The new tender will be floated in November, and bidders will be finalised in December,” said an official.If the new bar licences are issued before Dec 31, the existing bar owners should shut shop, added the official.
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