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West Bengal extends liquor shop distance from schools and religious sites
West Bengal government increases minimum distance for new liquor shops from schools and religious sites to 500 meters in urban areas and 1 km elsewhere, affecting new licenses but not existing ones.
At a glance
Why it matters
The policy aims to reduce alcohol accessibility near schools and religious sites, potentially mitigating public health and social risks, while balancing economic interests of the liquor sector.
Key facts
- New liquor shops must maintain 500-meter distance from schools and religious sites in urban areas.
- The distance requirement increases to 1 km in non-urban and rural parts of West Bengal.
- Existing liquor shops will not be affected by the new rule.
- The policy invokes Section 4P of the Excise Act for new off-shops through bars.
- Industry operators have raised concerns about the state agency retaining a profit margin.
What happens next
Detailed guidelines for implementing the new distance requirements are expected by the end of the current quarter.
The West Bengal government has raised the minimum distance for new liquor shops from schools, religious sites, and educational institutions to 500 meters in urban and municipal areas, and 1 km in other parts of the state, according to a recent notification. This change increases the previous requirement of 300 meters. The new rule applies to new liquor licenses, but existing shops will not be affected. State Liquor Association Secretary Bijan Patra confirmed the update, stating that the distance requirement does not apply if an existing shop wishes to relocate to a mall.
The policy aligns with an earlier announcement by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who stated the government would not permit liquor sales within a 1 km radius of schools, colleges, and temples. Over 4,000 liquor outlets currently operate within this radius, but the new rule will not impact them. The policy also invokes Section 4P of the Excise Act for establishing new off-shops through bars.
Some business owners have expressed concerns about the provision, arguing that the state agency retaining a profit margin could be detrimental to the liquor sector. However, no official response has been provided by the government or the liquor industry to address these concerns directly. The policy aims to reduce the proximity of alcohol sales to educational and religious areas, potentially mitigating public health and social risks associated with alcohol accessibility near such sites.
The government's decision reflects a broader trend of regulating alcohol sales to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children and students. The new rule is expected to be implemented in accordance with existing legal frameworks, though the exact timeline for enforcement remains unspecified. The policy also raises questions about the balance between public health considerations and the economic interests of the liquor trade.
The next known development is the expected release of detailed guidelines for implementing the new distance requirements, which is anticipated by the end of the current quarter. Until then, the focus remains on ensuring compliance with the updated regulations while addressing the concerns of industry stakeholders.