In an effort to prevent juveniles from turning into alcoholics, the Madurai district police have launched a crackdown on salesmen of wine shops selling liquor to youngsters.
The drive is the outcome of a complaint lodged by a school headmistress that a plus-two student had attended school drunk.
Senthil, 17, (name changed) of Chinna Irumbadi, studying Plus-2 at the Government Kallar Reclamation Higher Secondary School in Melakkal, under Sholavandan police station limits, was found drunk when he turned up at school on Thursday. The class teacher informed headmistress Shanthi who preferred a police complaint.
Enquiries with the boy revealed that he had bought liquor from a Tasmac outlet in Melakkal and drank it in an isolated place in the locality before going to school. Shop salesman Murugesan, it came to light, had been selling liquor to juveniles like Senthil who frequent the shop. Murugesan was arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
Superintendent of police V. Balakrishnan has cautioned Tasmac staff against selling liquor to juveniles. “Minor boys getting addicted to alcohol is on the rise. Addiction to alcohol not only affects their health but also makes their future bleak. Moreover, it paves the way for them to commit crimes and they also get alienated from their families. Hence, we have decided to take stringent action against salesmen found selling liquor to them,” he said.