Kolkata: The state govt has made the licensing rule for new liquor shops in the state effective from Sept 16 through a circular. As per the circular, the state govt would not allow new liquor licences within 1-km radius of religious institutions, schools and colleges.However, for KMC and other municipal areas, the exclusion zone will be till 500m radius of such places.The circular also cites that all the closed liquor shops — be it closed for litigation, surrender or for any other reason — would be allowed to reopen, subject to certain conditions. As per liquor industry veterans, the state has 300 shut shops. The total number of existing liquor shops, taken together as shops and off shops, would be around 6,500. According to the previous rule, the required distance for the restricted zone was 1,000 ft or a little over 300m.Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari had said his govt would not allow to sell alcohol within 1-km of schools, colleges and temples. Incidentally, there are over 4,000 liquor shops, off shops or bars that are located within 1km radius of these stipulated institutions. Besides, the new distance rule and opening of closed shops, the circular also mentions that for bars to open off shops, it would be governed by section 4P of the excise rule. Some industry veterans feel that this may not be good for the industry. As per the section 4P, the retailer governed by this rule will have to share 3% profit margin with West Bengal State Beverages Corporation (Bevco).“The total profit margin in the business at present is 6.5%. This means the retailer has to share about 50% of the profit it has earned with the govt. Though, this would not be allowed for existing licensee. If the existing licensees are also included under this section, then that would not be good,” an industry veteran said. There are only four such shops under section 4P, including one at Andal airport, in the state currently.
