Chennai, May 4 (IANS): Come May 7, tipplers in Tamil Nadu can have their drink in Tamil Nadu as the state government has decided to open the liquor shops.

In a statement issued here the government said the Tasmac liquor outlets will be opened from May 7 onwards. The shops will function between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Tamil Nadu government said in order to control the movement of people in the state border areas with Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as liquor shops have been opened there, the decision to open the liquor shops in the state has been taken.

However liquor shops located in the containment zones will continue to be closed.

According to the government, social distance of six feet should be maintained between persons standing in a queue.

For the state government, the sale of liquor is a major source of revenue and this was stopped for the past 40 days due to nationwide lockdown.

On Sunday night the government increased the value added tax on petrol and diesel. As a result the retail prices of petrol went up by Rs 3.25 per litre and that of diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre.