West Bengal tightens norms for new liquor retail outlets in urban areas

West Bengal has imposed fresh regulatory guidelines for liquor retail establishments, establishing differentiated distance norms based on location type. In urban areas, newly licensed liquor shops must maintain a minimum 500-metre distance from schools, colleges, and religious sites such as temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras. The requirement expands to 1 kilometre in non-urban regions across the state. The announcement follows Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's earlier commitment to restrict alcohol sales proximity to educational and religious institutions. Officials said the move reflects the government's intent to mitigate potential social and health impacts associated with easy access to alcohol near establishments frequented by students and devotees. The new guidelines will apply to all future liquor retail licences issued by the state authorities. Implementation details regarding existing outlets and transition timelines are expected to be clarified through subsequent notifications from the state excise department.