West Bengal has changed the rules for granting new liquor retail licences, increasing the minimum distance from religious, educational and health institutions in municipal and suburban areas while clarifying how new and existing retail sites will be treated.
The changes have been introduced through an amendment to the West Bengal Excise Rules, 2003, followed by a government notification. The revised framework applies to new licences and does not apply to liquor shops that are already operating or to existing licences, according to the report by Sangbad Pratidin – Bengal.
Under the earlier rule, a new liquor shop in a city or suburb had to be located at least 1,000 feet, or approximately 305 metres, from specified religious, educational and health institutions. The revised distance has been increased to 500 metres. For areas outside municipal limits, the distance requirement remains one kilometre.
The notification also addresses locations with more than one entrance. If a proposed liquor-shop site falls within the restricted distance of any one of the specified institution’s entrances, the restriction will apply, the report said. This makes the location assessment dependent on the relationship between the proposed site and the relevant access points rather than only on the main building location.
The amended rules distinguish between a “new site” and an “existing site” for the purpose of granting licences. A person holding an FL trade licence may be eligible to apply for a new 4(e) category retail licence at a new site, subject to specified conditions and the restrictions under Rule 8 of the excise rules. The application will not result in an automatic licence.
The district Collector will first examine the proposed location, including whether it faces objections or violates applicable restrictions. If the site clears that scrutiny, the proposal will be forwarded for approval by the Excise Commissioner. The applicant will also have to deposit the prescribed fee before the licence is issued through the stated process.
The changes also provide for a closed liquor shop to be opened again through a fresh licensing process. This means that a location where a shop has shut down may become eligible for a new licence, subject to the revised conditions and the required approvals. The rule is therefore not only about opening previously unused sites; it also establishes a route for considering applications connected with closed outlets.
Separate amendments have been made for liquor outlets operating in shopping malls and large shopping centres. The revised provisions include references to certain old and new licence categories covering beer, low-alcohol beverages and wine outlets in such commercial spaces. The report did not specify the individual malls or shopping centres affected by the change.
The changes place the district administration at the centre of site-level scrutiny while retaining approval powers with the Excise Commissioner. They also create a clearer distinction between the licensing treatment of new proposals and shops that were already operating before the amendment. Liquor traders cited by Sangbad Pratidin welcomed the changes, saying the revised framework could benefit several businesses.
The immediate implementation of a proposed outlet will depend on the site’s compliance with the distance requirements, the Collector’s examination, the prescribed fee and approval from the Excise Commissioner.
