Tamil Nadu's TASMAC faces court-ordered health warning mandate and supervisor absenteeism issues

The Madras High Court has asked the Tamil Nadu government and the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) to respond to a public‑interest litigation seeking mandatory health warnings at liquor retail outlets and pictorial warnings on alcohol bottles. The petition, filed by Dr. K Gowrishankar, cited a liver‑screening camp that found high rates of fatty liver, fibrosis and cirrhosis among regular drinkers and argued that many TASMAC shops lack the required Tamil‑language warning signboards.

Separately, TASMAC officials reported that supervisors at many outlets are not remaining on‑site for the full duration of their shifts. Supervisors often leave after a brief midday visit to deposit cash, leaving shops unattended for several hours. This has raised concerns about stock management, customer service and overall disciplinary control within the retail network.