No Liquor Shops Near Schools or Temples in Bengal : State Tightens Licensing Rules

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has tightened the rules for granting licences to new retail liquor shops, increasing the minimum distance that must be maintained from schools, colleges and religious institutions.

Under a government notification that came into effect from September 16, 2026, no new liquor licence will be granted within 1 kilometre of schools, colleges and religious institutions in rural and non-municipal areas of West Bengal. In Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and other municipal areas, the minimum distance has been fixed at 500 metres. The earlier requirement was 1,000 feet, or a little over 300 metres. 0

The revised norms follow Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s earlier announcement that his government would not allow new liquor licences within a 1-kilometre radius of schools, colleges and temples. The formal notification has now put the revised distance criteria into effect.

The new rule applies to fresh liquor licences rather than existing outlets. Therefore, liquor shops, bars and off-shops that are already operating within the newly defined restricted areas will not have to shut down solely because they fall within the 500-metre or 1-kilometre radius. Reports indicate that more than 4,000 existing liquor outlets, off-shops and bars are currently located within 1 kilometre of schools, colleges and religious institutions across the state. 1

The distinction between new and existing outlets is significant. While the government has expanded the exclusion zone for future licensing, the notification does not amount to a blanket closure of liquor shops that are already legally operating in these areas.

The rules also contain provisions concerning liquor shops that have stopped operating. According to reports on the notification, shops that have remained closed because of litigation, surrender of licences or other reasons may be allowed to reopen, subject to the conditions prescribed by the government. Industry representatives estimate that around 300 such outlets are currently closed across the state. 2

There is also a provision concerning existing liquor outlets that shift their operations to shopping malls. According to the state Liquor Association, the distance restrictions under Rule 8 would not apply when an existing liquor shop shifts to a mall, regardless of the mall’s size. 3

Another change concerns the opening of retail off-shops through bars. The government notification invokes Section 4P of the West Bengal Excise framework for such arrangements. Industry representatives have expressed concerns about the provision because retailers operating under it would have to share a portion of their profit margin with the West Bengal State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO). Reports have put the required share at 3 percent. 4

The revised policy is expected to have a greater practical impact on applications for new liquor outlets, particularly in densely populated urban areas where educational institutions and places of worship are often located close to commercial establishments.

The government’s decision has therefore changed the licensing framework rather than introducing a complete prohibition on liquor sales around schools and religious institutions. Existing licensed outlets remain unaffected by the new distance requirement, while applicants seeking fresh licences will have to meet the revised criteria.

The policy also represents a tightening of the previous licensing norms. From the earlier minimum distance of roughly 300 metres, the restriction has now been extended to 500 metres in municipal areas and 1 kilometre in rural and non-municipal areas.

With the notification now in force, future applications for new liquor shops will have to be assessed against the revised distance requirements. The implementation of the rules, particularly in densely populated areas and in cases involving relocation or reopening of previously closed outlets, will determine the policy’s practical impact on West Bengal’s liquor retail sector.