Madras High Court Seeks State's Response On Plea For Mandatory Tamil Health Warning Boards At TASMAC Shops

The bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan ordered notice to the Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare Department), Additional Chief Secretary (Commissionerate of Prohibition and Excise), The Commissioner (Commissionerate of prohibition and excise), the Managing Director (TASMAC), the Chairman (TASMAC), the District Manager (TASMAC) and the District Collector (Cuddalore District).

The petition was filed by a Doctor who was working as a consultant physician. He submitted that as part of a medical camp, when he had examined persons, it was found that a majority of them were suffering from fatty liver. The petitioner submitted that regular alcohol consumption is associated with serious liver damage, which can be prevented if the individual is made aware of the health risk.

The petitioner submitted that early-stage fatty liver is reversible within 3-6 months if alcohol consumption is stopped and appropriate lifestyle modification is implemented. Thus, he stressed the need for appropriate warning and awareness measures at every liquor retail vending outlet.

The petitioner further submitted that when he conducted a field inspection, he found that most of the TASMAC liquor retail vending shops in Cuddalore district were functioning without any statutory signboard in front of the shop, as mandated under the Tamil Nadu Liquor Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules. The petitioner submitted that he noted many customers consuming liquor in the vicinity of the shop, in the absence of any visible statutory warning board cautioning them about the health risk of alcohol and the dangers of drinking and driving.

The petitioner argued that apart from the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending Rules, the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2018 also mandate that alcoholic beverages carry a statutory warning stating that consumption of alcohol is injurious to health. The petitioner pointed out that there was no compliance with this requirement.

The petitioner argued that retail distribution of liquor could not be carried out in a manner that ignores the mandatory safeguards and fails to provide an effective health warning to the population, which was at high risk of alcohol induced liver disease.

Thus, the petitioner sought directions to ensure display of mandatory warning boards in Tamil, to reduce harmful drinking and prevent irreversible liver damage.

Case Title: Dr K Gowrishankar v The State of Tamil Nadu

Case No: WP No 29682 of 2026