Chennai: From dingy rooms selling overpriced snacks made in illegal kitchens, the bars attached to Tasmac outlets are set for a big makeover.In the biggest of changes, the bars will not be just a spot to booze anymore. They will also serve tea, coffee, and juices, making the premises open to non-drinkers too. Tasmac has decided to allow kitchens in the bars to make snacks and serve them fresh to customers, a long-pending demand of bar owners. Though most of the bars run kitchens, this is in violation of existing bar conditions and it paved the way for bribing local police, councillors, Tasmac district managers, and excise sleuths.Even as the Tasmac bars’ licences expire on August 30, Tasmac is preparing to float a new tender with revised regulations. The state govt had amended the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, 2003, to allow bars to be operated within 100m of Tasmac outlets. The revised regulations have accommodated this provision, meaning anyone with a no-objection certificate for premises near a Tasmac outlet can participate in the bar tender.Prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh said the rules barring kitchens in Tasmac bars are redundant. “We will allow kitchens and ensure that safety and hygiene are not compromised,” he said.The draft regulations say, “A separate kitchen area may be provided for cooking. The kitchen area shall be segregated from the seating area… The kitchen area shall at all times conform to the standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.”According to the draft regulations accessed by TOI, the bar contract period itself is increased from two to three years. Also, the contract can be extended up to one year twice, subject to fulfilling the conditions. However, to augment revenue, Tasmac has adopted a dynamic monthly licence fee instead of the existing fixed licence fee for the contract period. Tasmac will demand a higher quote even with the H1, and the licence will be decided based on the actual monthly sales.In another major reform, Tasmac has made it clear that the bar should be a proper concrete structure. No temporary shed, prefabricated structure, or a structure of tin sheet, asbestos sheet, wood, bamboo, tarpaulin, or thatch will be permitted to operate as a bar. Tasmac sources said that various reforms are being incorporated in the upcoming tender to make the bar premises tidy and pleasant.Satish Galley, a Semmanchery resident, has welcomed the initiative. “Tasmac bars are the worst. The premises are poorly maintained, and every single regulation is flouted. The govt should not just stop with framing new regulations, but should ensure they are followed to the tee,” he said.However, Tasmac bar owners say they were not consulted by Tasmac management while framing rules for the new tender. “We have already raised our objection to allowing bars 100m away from Tasmac outlets, as it would compromise public safety,” said N Thirunavukkarasu, president of Tamil Manila Tasmac Bar Owners, Building Owners and Workers Association.
