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Politics
West Bengal Enforces 500‑Metre Buffer for New Liquor Licences in Municipal Areas
✍️ Aabkari Times
🗓 07 Oct 2026, 02:37 PM
👁 16
The West Bengal government has introduced new liquor‑licence regulations that require any new outlet to be at least 500 metres away from schools, hospitals and places of worship in municipal jurisdictions.
The state cabinet approved revised liquor‑licence guidelines aimed at curbing the concentration of alcohol outlets in densely populated zones. Under the new rule, any fresh licence granted in a municipal area must be situated at least half a kilometre from educational institutions, hospitals, and places of worship.
Officials said the distance criterion will be enforced through a geo‑mapping system that cross‑checks proposed locations against a database of sensitive sites. Applications that fail to meet the 500‑metre threshold will be rejected outright.
The move follows a series of public‑health concerns raised by civic groups, who argued that proximity of liquor shops to vulnerable populations fuels addiction and disorder. The state government expects the policy to reduce alcohol‑related incidents while still allowing licensed businesses to operate in compliant zones.
Implementation will begin next month, with municipal authorities tasked with monitoring compliance and imposing penalties for violations. Existing licences will be grandfathered, but owners seeking renewal must also adhere to the new distance standards.
Officials said the distance criterion will be enforced through a geo‑mapping system that cross‑checks proposed locations against a database of sensitive sites. Applications that fail to meet the 500‑metre threshold will be rejected outright.
The move follows a series of public‑health concerns raised by civic groups, who argued that proximity of liquor shops to vulnerable populations fuels addiction and disorder. The state government expects the policy to reduce alcohol‑related incidents while still allowing licensed businesses to operate in compliant zones.
Implementation will begin next month, with municipal authorities tasked with monitoring compliance and imposing penalties for violations. Existing licences will be grandfathered, but owners seeking renewal must also adhere to the new distance standards.