Tamil Nadu to install bottle return machines in all Tasmac outlets
Minister K. Vignesh said the procurement process for the machines should be finished within 20 days.
All 4,048 Tasmac outlets in Tamil Nadu will soon be equipped with reverse vending machines to allow the return of empty liquor bottles, according to The Hindu. Minister for Prohibition and Excise K. Vignesh announced the plan in Coimbatore on Monday, November 2, 2026.
The new system will permit consumers to return empty bottles at any outlet across the state, regardless of where the original purchase was made. The minister stated that the government expects to finish the tender process for these machines within 20 days.
Vignesh alleged that previous administrations were involved in irregularities regarding bottle collections. He claimed that under the former DMK regime, Rs 10 was collected per bottle as a party fund alongside a Rs 10 buy-back charge. He said the government has since stopped the party fund collection and included the buy-back charge in the maximum retail price (MRP).
The minister also warned Tasmac employees against conducting protests or disrupting outlet operations, stating that legal action would follow. He noted that four employees were suspended for allegedly forcing shops to close, while 960 others received notices. He added that the government is considering setting up larger shops of 500 to 1,000 sq. ft. to improve billing and delivery processes.