Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay orders closure of 717 liquor shops near schools and temples

CHENNAI, May 12, 2026 — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has issued a significant order to close 717 retail liquor shops located within 500 meters of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stations.

The decision was made in the interest of public welfare following a detailed review of the state’s liquor retail network.Currently, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation operates 4,765 retail liquor outlets across the state.

Under the direction of the Chief Minister, an audit was conducted to identify shops situated in close proximity to sensitive public areas. The investigation revealed that 717 shops were functioning within the restricted 500-meter radius of key community hubs.

The breakdown of the shops marked for closure includes 276 outlets located near places of worship, 186 shops near educational institutions, and 255 shops situated close to bus stations.

Joseph Vijay has directed that all identified 717 shops must be permanently closed within the next two weeks to ensure a better environment for the general public.