Bengal tightens liquor rules: New shops need 500m distance from schools, religious sites

Kolkata: West Bengal has tightened distance requirements for new liquor shops, with outlets in urban and municipal areas required to be at least 500 metres from schools, colleges and religious institutions, while the minimum distance in rural and non-municipal areas has been set at 1 km.

The West Bengal government has increased the minimum distance required between new retail liquor shops and schools, colleges and religious institutions.

Under the revised rules, new liquor licences cannot be granted within 500 metres of such locations in urban and municipal areas, including areas under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

In rural and other non-municipal areas, the minimum distance has been set at 1 km.

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What has changed?

The previous requirement was 1,000 feet, or roughly 300 metres.

The new framework therefore increases the minimum distance for new outlets in urban areas from about 300 metres to 500 metres, while maintaining a 1-km requirement for rural and non-municipal areas.

The restrictions cover educational institutions and religious sites.

The revised distance requirement applies to new liquor licences. Existing liquor outlets, off-shops and bars operating within the specified distances will not be affected by the new rule.

Officials said more than 4,000 liquor outlets, off-shops and bars currently operate within a 1-km radius of such sensitive locations across the state.

State Liquor Association Secretary Bijan Patra said the distance provision would not apply when an existing liquor shop is shifted to a mall, regardless of the mall's size.

This provision could therefore allow certain existing outlets to relocate without being subject to the new distance requirement, according to the association.

The revised policy also invokes Section 4P of the Excise Act for setting up new off-shops through bars.

Some industry operators have raised concerns about this provision, arguing that it may affect the economics of the liquor trade because the state agency would retain a margin.

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Why is the rule significant?

The change creates a stricter location requirement for future liquor outlets near schools, colleges and places of worship.

However, because existing establishments are exempt, the rule will not immediately remove liquor shops that are already operating within the newly specified distances.

The policy therefore primarily affects where new liquor licences can be issued and how future liquor outlets are located across urban, municipal and rural areas.

The revised framework introduces different distance thresholds based on location: 500 metres in urban and municipal areas and 1 km in rural and non-municipal areas.

The change also needs to be distinguished from the earlier announcement that liquor sales would not be permitted within 1 km of schools, colleges and temples. The latest notification specifically concerns the licensing of new outlets, while existing establishments are not being required to relocate under the new distance rule.

The provision concerning the shifting of existing outlets to malls and the use of Section 4P of the Excise Act could also affect how the new licensing framework is implemented.