Why are Tasmac staff opposing the liquor bottle ‘buyback’ scheme in Tamil Nadu? | Explained
Tasmac last week announced a ₹10 increase in the MRP of all liquor variants from November 1, 2026, by introducing an environment cess, with consumers eligible for a ₹10 refund upon returning empty bottles
The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) has faced controversy over its controversial "buyback" scheme for liquor bottles. This proposal, which involves charging an additional ₹10 over the maximum retail price (MRP) and offering a ₹10 refund for returned empty bottles, has been met with resistance from Tasmac employees. They argue that the extra money is used to cover expenses like bottle breakages, internet charges, and other miscellaneous costs.
The issue gained attention when the TVK-led coalition came into power, leading to strict guidelines and the suspension of employees found collecting the extra amount. In response, Tasmac announced the ₹10 increase in MRP for all liquor variants, effective November 1, 2026, under the guise of an environment cess. They promised consumers a ₹10 refund for returning empty bottles, branding this as a "buyback" scheme.
However, the launch of this scheme faced immediate challenges on its first day. Several outlets closed without prior notice, citing technical glitches in point-of-sale (POS) machines and insufficient storage space for returned bottles. These issues have raised questions about the corporation's readiness to execute the new system effectively.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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