Alcohol at weddings and stadiums banned in Tamil Nadu state

The Tamil Nadu state government has refused to allow alcohol to be served at weddings despite criticism from the Opposition. Minister V. Senthil Balaji said the changes in the laws only apply to international sporting events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and global investor meetings. In March 2023, the Liquor Licensing Act was amended to allow temporary permits for possessing and serving liquor in certain places such as conference halls, banquet halls, stadiums, and other venues. However, this authorization is limited to national and international events, and weddings are not included.

Despite this, the document states that the license can be issued for both commercial and non-commercial events. Commercial occasions include conference halls, sports arenas, and banquet halls, and non-commercial occasions include private celebrations such as parties. Alcohol can only be served in factory packaging.

The Opposition criticized the government for promising a complete ban on alcohol while relaxing its distribution policy. AIADMK leader K. Palaniswami accused the authorities of making the youth addicted to liquor. He emphasized that allowing the sale of liquor in marriage halls and sports stadiums would increase crime and adversely affect people’s lives.

Also, alcohol at sports venues can lead to an increase in betting. Making a bet has become much easier today, as you can do it directly through your phone. Bookmakers allow you to bet on cricket and other popular sports. While preparing the material, we researched many sources of information and found information about dozens of applications for betting on IPL from well-known bookmakers on the site. People actively use these apps at stadiums. In combination with alcohol, it often leads to risky gambling behavior.

If alcohol and gambling meet regularly, it can lead to huge losses, not to mention the onset of gambling addiction, which is happening all over the world, from India to Zimbabwe.

BJP party chief K. Annamalai also joined the criticism. He said that the ruling DMK party, which had promised to close down liquor stores in a phased manner, was increasing its sales. He said these decisions were being taken in the interest of liquor manufacturers and not the public.

AMMK general secretary T. T. V. Dhinakaran also expressed concern that the new amendments could increase accidents due to drunk driving. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the relaxation notification and threatened mass protests otherwise.

Thus, Tamil Nadu’s alcohol policy remains the subject of fierce debate. The authorities claim that the permit concerns only significant international events, while the opposition is sure that this is only the first step towards a broader legalization of alcohol sales.

Earlier, experts discussed the need to introduce a more effective central regulation of gambling in India.