Tamil Nadu government on Friday issued an order on the reopening of the state-run TASMAC liquor shops from May 16 with new timings. TASMAC outlets will function across the state between 10AM and 5PM; exempting those within the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) police limits, Tiruvallur district, shopping malls and containment zones. TN government has also ordered for a new token system to be implemented for sales at all TASMAC shops across the state with only 500 tokens to be issued every day. Social distancing norms will be in place and need to be adhered to by customers coming to purchase liquor who are also required to wear face-masks.

People heading to the TASMAC outlets will be provided with seven different color-coded tokens and tipplers can purchase liquor based on the color and timings mentioned. Customers will be informed of the address of the TASMAC outlet on the color-coded tokens from where they can purchase liquor. The token system has been introduced after the Supreme Court issued a stay on an order for Madras High Court's decision to close all TASMAC outets in the state after it reopened for the first time on May 7; 43 days after the entire nation went into lockdown mode. The Madras High Court had ordered for the closure of all state-run liquor shops on May 8 after visuals and pictures of people violating social distancing norms came to light raising concerns for a new COVID-19 virus outbreak.