The historical Mayiladuthurai town, surrounded by several famed spiritual shrines, is now rid of all liquor outlets.
The last bar, a private licenced outlet, was shut on Sunday, bring cheers to the women and tears to the tipplers who now have to go in search for the shops in the fringes of the town.
Mayiladuthurai, in Nagapattinam district, had 16 TASMAC retail outlets when the Supreme Court ruling on liquor shops along highways brought the shutters down on them recently. But a private licenced bar at the Narayana Pillai Street escaped the officials action and not surprisingly those in search of ale enjoyed their drink there, though at a higher price.
When complaints reached the Nagapattinam district administration that directed the officials to inquire into its functioning, it was found that the licenced bar was well within the 250-metre mark from the highways set by the courts.
Consequently, Collector S. Palanisamy ordered its immediate closure paving the way for Mayiladuthurai becoming a liquor-free town, to the joy of the public and women.
