Anti-liquor movement bats for complete prohibition

Madurai: Welcoming the TVK govt's order for the closure of 717 Tasmac liquor shops operating near places of worship, educational institutions and bus stations in the state, the Tamil Nadu Federation of Anti-Liquor Movement (TAFALIM) urged the govt to move the state towards complete prohibition.Federation's convenor C J Rajan, in a statement, said liquor shops and liquor consuming are causes for several issues in Tamil Nadu such as poverty, domestic violence, law and order issues and accidents. He said the closure of 717 shops was an important step towards safeguarding social well-being. Rajan urged the govt to ensure that the closed shops are not relocated to other areas and prevent the opening of illegal liquor shops in future. The govt should gradually move towards complete prohibition in Tamil Nadu, with planned actions to reduce the number of Tasmac shops. Every primary health centre in the state should establish alcohol and drug addiction recovery and rehabilitation centres to ensure the rehabilitation of those affected by alcohol addiction, he said. The govt should expand awareness campaigns about prohibition, provide alternative social and sports opportunities for youth, and enhance family welfare programmes, he added.The federation also demanded that the govt provide alternative jobs for more than 3,500 employees who would lose their jobs due to the closure of the 717 shops.