Tamil Nadu liquor buyers will soon need to switch to digital payments for higher value purchases at state-run TASMAC outlets in the future.
The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) is preparing a phased payment rule in which digital payment will now be compulsory for a single liquor purchase exceeding ₹1,000 from November 1, 2026. From January 1, 2027 onwards, the price will also be reduced to ₹500, which will give it a layer of protection to more customers.
This will cover approximately 4,048 retail liquor outlets in the state and will help to cut cash handling, increase transparency and address complaints of customers in a market when it comes to price.
Under the new system, customers who buy liquor worth more than ₹1,000 in a single transaction will pay through approved digital methods such as Unified Payments Interface (UPI), debit cards or credit cards.
Cash payments will still be possible for transactions below ₹500. From January 1, 2027, digital payment will be required. This means customers will have to plan their payments accordingly and the corporation will gradually decrease the amount of cash in the system.
TASMAC Managing Director K. Nanthakumar has directed district managers to ensure all retail outlets have PoS machines connected to the corporation’s bank account.
And they have also been instructed to inform employees on how to process digital payments and reconcile transactions. If a machine, internet connection or server fails, the problem must be reported promptly and the disruption recorded. The new rules are intended to prevent technical issues from disrupting sales when the new rules come into force.
There is a long-standing problem with overcharging at some liquor outlets. In some cases customers are asked to pay more than the MRP printed on liquor bottles, they say.
Through digital payments through official banking channels TASMAC wants to make clear the transaction record and make it easier to spot inconsistencies. Digital records are likely to help to track sales, reconcile collections and investigate complaints.
In addition, the company also has told employees not to make payments from personal UPI IDs, private QR codes or individual bank accounts. Digital transactions are to be processed through the authorised payment system linked to TASMAC’s designated bank account.
Any employee caught violating the directive will be disciplined. Everything must be accompanied by a bill and the sales to customers should be in line with the bill. The shops are to display notices to customers about the new payment rules so they know what is expected of them when purchasing.
Customers who encounter overcharging or other irregularities can contact TASMAC’s toll-free customer service number at 1800 889 2015.
The company is also encouraging customers to make payments in advance through its online advance-booking service, where it is available, and go to the selected outlet to receive their purchases. The initiative is not the same as online liquor delivery: customers still need to be present to collect their purchases.
The success of the new policy is dependent on how well the payment machines are functioning and if the norms are implemented in all the stores. As the threshold goes to ₹500 in January customers who normally pay in cash will have to learn UPI and card payments.
For now, the major dates to remember are November 1, 2026 when digital payments are made mandatory for every single purchase above ₹1,000 and January 1, 2027, when the maximum is ₹500. It is another step by Tamil Nadu’s state-run liquor retailer to be more transparent and make payments transparent for customers and workers.
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