TASMAC will accept UPI, debit and credit card payments for liquor purchases above Rs 1,000, while cash payments will remain permitted for smaller transactions
Tamil Nadu’s state-run liquor retailer TASMAC will make digital payments compulsory for purchases exceeding Rs 1,000 from 1 November. The move is intended to address complaints of liquor being sold above the maximum retail price (MRP), improve transparency in sales and minimise the risks associated with handling large volumes of cash.
The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) operates 4,048 retail liquor outlets across the state. Although digital payment facilities are already available, cash continues to account for a significant share of transactions, a senior company official said, citing an official circular on Tuesday.
According to media report, handling cash on a daily basis had created operational and security concerns for outlet employees, including risks during the transportation of money, discrepancies in accounts and the circulation of counterfeit currency.
The new rules will require customers to use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), debit cards or credit cards for any single liquor purchase exceeding Rs 1,000. Transactions of Rs 1,000 or below can continue to be settled in cash or through digital payment methods.
The decision also comes against the backdrop of repeated complaints from customers about outlets charging more than the MRP. According to the official, digital transactions will create an electronic record of each sale, capturing the amount and time of payment, while ensuring that the proceeds are transferred directly to authorised bank accounts.
TASMAC has prohibited employees from accepting payments through personal QR codes or individual bank accounts. All transactions must be processed through the corporation’s authorised payment systems.
The corporation has directed outlet supervisors to issue printed bills for every purchase and verify payments through official point-of-sale (POS) machines before handing over liquor bottles. Employees who fail to comply with the new requirements could face disciplinary action.
All TASMAC outlets will also be required to display notice boards measuring 2×3 feet to inform customers about the revised payment rules. District managers have been instructed to check POS equipment, ensure adequate network connectivity and conduct weekly reviews to monitor the rollout.
The transition is expected to strengthen transaction records across the state’s liquor retail network, while reducing dependence on cash and improving oversight of sales and pricing practices.
