Foreign liquor retailers in West Bengal have urged the state government to withdraw Covid-era levies and additional charges imposed on the trade, arguing that rising regulatory costs are impacting profitability and the sustainability of licensed outlets.
The Society for the Welfare of West Bengal Foreign Liquor Licences, which represents over 1,000 liquor retailers across the state, has called for a comprehensive review of fees and charges, including the removal of the special purpose fee introduced during the pandemic and round-off amounts levied on invoices issued by the state beverages corporation.
The association has also sought an increase in retailer commissions to around 10 percent of the maximum retail price, compared to the current effective margin of 3.5 to 4 percent after deductions. In addition, it has recommended tighter control over the issuance of liquor licences, particularly in rural areas, improved warehouse quality checks, simplified regulatory procedures and stronger action against illegal liquor trade.
The special purpose fee, introduced in 2021, ranges from ₹5 to ₹400 per bottle depending on the product category and pricing slab. Industry representatives maintain that removing these charges would provide much-needed relief to retailers facing increasing operational costs.
