The wine retail outlets operated by Tasmac in Thanjavur district remained shut on Wednesday.

According to sources, the TASMAC wine retail outlet workers have embarked on a strike in support of their demand that the TASMAC administration absorb the increased expenses involved in running wine shops, particularly after the launch of the empty liquor bottle buyback scheme during the previous DMK regime.

Claiming that the TASMAC administration was not bearing the entire monthly expenses relating to the operation of the retail outlets and the ‘excess monthly operation expenses’ was borne by the shop employees, the protesting employees said the additional expenditure involved in the execution of the empty liquor bottle buy-back scheme had made a dent in their pockets.

Further, suspension of their colleagues at several places across the State on charges of collecting “₹10 extra” for bottle, an unwritten direction from the TASMAC administration, following video clips over this issue going viral on social media, had annoyed the wine shop employees.

Demanding withdrawal of the suspension and other disciplinary actions against their colleagues, the wine shop workers stayed away from their duty on Wednesday, sources said.