Anbumani Ramadoss calls for liquor shop closures in Tamil Nadu

PMK president and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has called for the phased closure of all liquor shops in Tamil Nadu within three years. He proposed shutting down 1,000 outlets annually, arguing that the human and economic costs of alcohol addiction—including accidents, suicides, and chronic illnesses—outweigh the approximately Rs 60,000 crore in annual revenue generated by the trade.

In addition to the liquor proposal, Ramadoss raised concerns regarding the state’s law and order situation. He cited several recent violent incidents, including a double murder during a parking dispute in Tirunelveli, the murder of a youth in Chennai, and the killing of an elderly woman in Salem. Ramadoss stated that the government must fulfill its basic responsibility of ensuring public safety, noting that development is meaningless if citizens cannot live without fear.