UDHAGAMANDALAM: Tipplers and tourists visiting Udhagamandalam can now raise a toast, as the government on Friday sanctioned an ‘Elite TASMAC liquor shop’ in the tourist town of Ooty.The proposed outlet, the first-of-its -kind in the district, comes in the wake of the government’s decision to open such shops across the State, depending upon the population and demand for high-end liquor brands.The TASMAC officials have already identified several suitable locations in the town to set up these ‘special outlets’. According to a top official, the ‘elite’ shop, the first-of-its-kind, would be different from the ordinary IMFL shops. These outlets would cater to the needs of both the tourists and locals, who find it difficult to get their hands on high-end liquor brands in the existing TASMAC shops, the official said. However, there would not be a bar attached to these outlets.The official added that these shops would also provide answer to tourists, who were forced to shell out huge sums for top brands, which are hard to find at ordinary TASMAC outlets.With the opening of the proposed liquor outlet in Ooty, the number of TASMAC shops in the district, would go up to 21. There are a total of 132 outlets in the Nilgiris district, often referred to as a ‘tipplers’ paradise’. The average sale recorded per day is Rs 60 lakh in the entire district, comprising Ooty, Coonoor, Gudalur, Kotagiri, Pandalur and Manjoor taluks. On festive occasions like Deepavali and in the peak of summer, this figure shoots up to Rs 1 crore.At present, 900 officials and workers man the TASMAC outlets in the district, while 89 vacancies are yet to be filled. Meanwhile, the sale of liquor recorded a dip in the rural belts. This is attributed to the migration of a large number of workers engaged in sawing and loading trees, to Tirupur, after the government banned the cutting down of trees in the Queen of Hills.
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