BENGAL REDRAWS LIQUOR LICENSING MAP WITH EXPANDED BUFFER ZONES AROUND SCHOOLS AND RELIGIOUS SITES

October 1, 2026

The West Bengal government has introduced stricter distance requirements for new liquor outlets, barring fresh licences for shops located within 500 metres of educational institutions and religious places in municipal areas, and within one kilometre in other parts of the state.

The revised rules were formalised through a government circular issued on September 16, establishing a framework for regulating the location of new liquor establishments. The restrictions expand the earlier minimum distance requirement of approximately 1,000 feet, or slightly more than 300 metres.

Under the new framework, Kolkata and other municipal areas will have a 500-metre exclusion zone, while locations outside these urban jurisdictions will be subject to the wider one-kilometre restriction. The policy is intended to regulate the proximity of liquor outlets to schools, colleges and places of worship.

The restrictions primarily concern the granting of new licences and do not automatically require existing licensed establishments to shut down. The government has also outlined conditions under which liquor shops that had previously closed because of litigation, licence surrender or other reasons may be permitted to reopen.

The revised framework also introduces provisions affecting certain new retail outlets. Under Section 4P of the excise rules, applicable establishments may be required to share a portion of their profit margin with the West Bengal State Beverages Corporation. The provision has raised concerns among some liquor retailers over its potential impact on operating margins.

Industry representatives have been seeking clarity on the implementation of the new requirements, particularly regarding licence renewals, reopening of closed establishments and the financial obligations applicable to new outlets. The state has approximately 6,500 active liquor shops and bars, while industry estimates suggest that around 300 closed outlets may be eligible to reopen subject to the prescribed conditions.

The new licensing framework marks a significant change in Bengal’s regulation of alcohol retail locations, with its practical impact expected to depend on the processing of pending applications, compliance inspections and the conditions imposed on establishments seeking fresh or renewed permissions.