Liquor lovers who approach Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets are getting a high even before consuming liquor nowadays. The reason: charging Rs. 5. or Rs. 10 extra for a bottle, depending on the product range.
These outlets enjoy monopoly status and rarely sell the product at the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) printed on the bottle, rues tipplers.
There were incidents of consumers forcing shops to shut and hurling stones at shop assistants.Excessive charging is reported at outlets on Sanganur Road, Koilpalayam, Pappanaickenpalayam, and Sethumadai.
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S. Soundarapandian, District Manager of TASMAC said that so far, action had been initiated against 32 salesmen and supervisor. A sum of Rs. 3.80 lakh has been levied as fine so far this month.
Last month alone, action was initiated against more than 20 salesman and Rs. 2.40 lakhs was collected as fine. Many customers say if the excessive charging is questioned, they are abused by salesmen.
Mr. Soundarapandian said consumers can send message to 94450-29716 giving details of date, time, location of the shop, and the rate demanded for a particular product.
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He said that TAMSAC recorded an off-take of 3.5 lakh cartons of hard liquor registering a 9 per cent growth. The sale of beer witnessed a 40 per cent increase.
One hundred of the 305 outlets in the district were being provided with cooler boxes to serve chilled beer to consumers.
Soon price list will be displayed at the outlets and computerised billing will be introduced to stop fleecing at the outlets.