Chennai: From whiskey to brandy, gin, and rum, customers are unable to find their regular brands on the shelves of Tasmac retail outlets across Chennai. Outlet staff blame it on poor supply. There are about 600 liquor outlets in Chennai region.Tasmac supervisors told TOI that depot supply has been irregular and very low over the last few weeks. “We would replenish the stock twice a week, and we would get the order delivered in bulk. However, of late, the liquor is supplied once every two days, but the quantity has been very less,” he said.The racks at the imported liquor shop (Shop No. 619) on GN Chetty Road were almost empty. The story is no different at other regular and imported liquor shops in the city.Ramamoorthy of Mahalingapuram said he could not find Smirnoff vodka, which he usually buys, at any liquor outlet. “I visited a few shops, but they claim there is no supply,” he said. Another Tasmac salesman said even the ordinary range of liquor, like McDowells brandy and beer varieties, is in short supply. “We have been instructed not to pay transporters for unloading liquor from trucks. So, they do not supply stock with the same vigor as they used to do previously, leading to shortages,” he said.Tasmac has been procuring Indian-made foreign liquor from 11 distilleries in the State and beer from seven breweries. Tasmac management recently ordered equal supplies of liquor from all suppliers to prevent district managers and supervisors from placing indents favoring certain suppliers. Only last week, the equal indent system was withdrawn, and shopkeepers were allowed to place orders based on actual sales. “We can expect the supply to improve in the coming weeks,” said a Tasmac salesman at the shop (No. 620) in T Nagar.However, despite complaints about lower stock and liquor unavailability, liquor sales have not dipped this month across the State compared to last year. While IMFL sales have seen a jump of 5% this September compared to last year, with Chennai Central district topping the list with a 10% spike in sales, beer sales have seen a 20% jump.K Nanthakumar, MD, Tasmac, was unavailable for comment.
