Starting Thursday, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) will introduce an online booking platform for buying Indian Made Foreign Liquid (IMFL). The new portal, Tasmace2e.in, will save time in queues while also stopping shopkeepers from overcharging customers. This specific complaint has landed TASMAC in court more than once.
The state-run retailer allows consumers to check stock availability, pay digitally and collect their orders from the outlet. This system will be available in 4,048 outlets across the state.
To use the site, a customer must first confirm they are 21 years or older, the legal drinking age in Tamil Nadu. The website will be available in both Tamil and English.
After logging in, one has to register his/her mobile number and verify it through OTP. Payment can be made online to confirm the order, after which a receipt will be generated. You have to scan the QR code on the receipt at the counter and get the goods.
Customers can order from shops within a radius of 5km and 25km. The app will show directions to the nearby outlet. A list of liquor varieties and supplier details will also be available. A QR code will be generated after the purchase, which can be shown at the shop on arrival.
When ordering, you must go to the appropriate TASMAC store to collect the liquor on the same day. Otherwise, a fee of Rs. 10 will be deducted, and the remaining amount will be refunded.
The rolling out of the app comes as TASMAC tightens disciplinary action against staff for overcharging. Managing Director K. Nandakumar issued a circular on July 24, warning staff that repeated violations could result in suspension, transfer, or dismissal. In May, within two weeks in power, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had ordered the shutdown of 717 TASMAC shops near educational institutions, bus terminuses and places of worship.
