Trade body seeks steps to stop illicit liquor sale

Kolkata: Stronger enforcement measures are needed to stop manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit liquor, said the Society for the Welfare of West Bengal Foreign Liquor Licenses. At an event on Sunday, the society called upon the state govt to consider reforms in the liquor trade. It has also called for the rationalisation of trade margins in line with rising operational, compliance and business costs.The demands include decentralisation and streamlining of licensing and administrative processes to improve efficiency and reduce procedural delays. The event followed the announcement of a new policy by CM Suvendu Adhikari last week, which said no new liquor licences would be issued to establishments within 1km of schools, colleges or places of religious worship.The meeting was attended by representatives of the society, as well as over 1,000 licensed retailers of foreign liquor. Speakers at the meeting clarified that the policy would not affect existing licences. Existing liquor retailers will continue their operations, as their licences were issued in accordance with the previous directive stating they could not be located within 300m of educational or religious establishments.