Digital payments mandatory for liquor purchases above Rs 1,000 in Tamil Nadu
Benchmarks Nifty22,658.15-95.05FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth5Y Return18.32 % Invest NowFEATURED FUNDS★★★★★UTI Aggressive Hybrid Fund Regular Plan-Growth5Y Return8.45 % Invest NowEnter search…
Tamil Nadu’s state-run TASMAC will make digital payments mandatory for liquor purchases exceeding Rs 1,000 from November 1. Customers can pay through UPI, debit cards or credit cards, while cash payments will remain an option for purchases within the limit. The move aims to improve transaction transparency, address complaints of overcharging above the maximum retail price (MRP) and reduce risks associated with handling cash across the state’s 4,048 liquor outlets.
In a major push toward transparency and operational efficiency, the State-owned TASMAC has made digital payments mandatory for retail liquor sales exceeding Rs 1,000, starting November 1.Quoting an official circular, a senior official from the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) said on Tuesday that the state currently operates 4,048 retail liquor shops.
"While options for UPI, debit, and credit cards are already available, a vast majority of transactions continue to happen in cash," he said, adding, "Handling large amounts of physical currency daily has created significant operational hurdles for shop staff, including safety risks during cash transit, account discrepancies, and the risk of counterfeit currency."
Stating that the state administration has received repeated public complaints regarding overcharging above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), the official said transitioning to digital payment systems allows every transaction to be logged in real time with precise timestamps and amounts, effectively preventing overcharging and directly crediting sales revenue into official bank accounts.
The digital payment mandate will roll out in phases. From November 1, any single purchase valued over Rs 1,000 must be paid using digital modes such as UPI, debit or credit cards, he said.
Live Events
"Customers purchasing within these limit amounts will retain the option to pay via cash or digital means. To maintain strict control, TASMAC has strictly banned staff from accepting payments via personal QR codes or individual bank accounts," he said.
Asserting that any violation of the new rule will result in severe disciplinary action against the concerned employees, the TASMAC official said, "The outlet supervisors are instructed to issue physical bills for every purchase and hand over liquor bottles only after verifying the transaction on official POS machines."
"To ensure smooth implementation, all shops will display prominent 2x3 feet notice boards informing customers of the rules," he said, adding, "The district managers have been tasked with auditing POS machinery, ensuring proper network connectivity, and conducting weekly reviews to oversee the transition."
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onTASMAC digital paymentsTamil Nadu liquor shopsTASMAC new rules November 1digital payments above Rs 1000TASMAC UPI paymentsTamil Nadu liquor purchase rulesTASMAC cash payment limitliquor shops digital payment mandateTASMAC MRP overcharging complaintsTamil Nadu liquor sales rules
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
...moreless(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onTASMAC digital paymentsTamil Nadu liquor shopsTASMAC new rules November 1digital payments above Rs 1000TASMAC UPI paymentsTamil Nadu liquor purchase rulesTASMAC cash payment limitliquor shops digital payment mandateTASMAC MRP overcharging complaintsTamil Nadu liquor sales rules
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
...morelessStories you might be interested in
Figures reflect the source report and its stated period. This article is for information and is not investment advice.
