Mamata Banerjee and liberal liquor shops policy

Reliable sources say West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee does not drink alcohol. Dr. Amit Mitra, the former Finance Minister and current advisor, also does not drink. Yet both of them supported a rapid rise in licenses of liquor shops across the state.

This may seem contradictory, but the reason is simple. Excise revenue has shot up by almost five times higher than in 2017–18. The numbers reveal the real motivation behind the liberal liquor policy of West Bengal Government.

This revenue increase however, comes at a grave social cost.  This liberal liquor policy has made the alcohol available in every corner of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee is duly aware of such societal damage. Moreover, we all know the phenomenal growth of crimes in the state. So, the ultimate result is a social fallout with increasing atrocities and chaos.

A Retrospect

A quick look at recent incidents paints a disturbing picture:

• Sanjay Roy, convicted in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case, was reportedly heavily intoxicated during the crime.
• On August 14, drunken hooligans vandalized property during protests demanding justice in the same case.
• In Kanchrapara, intoxicated youths attacked a Class XI student during a “Reclaim the Night” rally.
• Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in the South Calcutta College molestation case, drunk to the brim during the assault in a picnic previously and even after the crime.
• On April 6, 2025, film director Siddhant Das crashed his car into a Kolkata market while drunk, killing a 63-year-old vendor and injuring several others.
• In Jaynagar, a mob under the influence of alcohol lynched a youth in June 2025.
• On Kali Puja night, The police arrested Narayan Halder for desecrating a goddess idol while completely intoxicated.
• On October 22, 2025, Rajib Kahar allegedly assaulted a 54-year-old nurse with stones in Birbhum’s Mohammad Bazar while drunk.

Notably, The data furnished above are collected from various online news reports, news papers, channels and Google AI. We have not authenticated the data so can not guarantee the accuracy

These incidents represent only the visible tip of the ice-berg. Countless cases of drunk driving, assaults, and domestic violence likely go unreported or unnoticed.

Research has  established a strong correlation between alcohol consumption and violent crimes. There are plenty of examples of usage of alcohol during sexual violence.

Baseless Pretexts in Liquor shops

To be clear, this is not an argument for teaching moralities or prohibition of alcohol. Alcohol consumption is a matter of personal freedom. And West Bengal, unlike Bihar or Gujarat, has not banned drinking. However, when personal choice begins creating nuisance in the society the government cant keep its eyes closed.

Liquor shops have now spread everywhere in the state. Once, there was a time when the people had to walk down kilometers to find a wine shop. Now they are almost door-to-door, even in semi-urban areas. This accelerated growth is encouraging unchecked drinking in the state of Mamata Banerjee.

The socio-economic condition of the state adds another troubling dimension under the regime of Mamata Banerjee. When Tata bid Good bye to the state, When Tata bid farewell to Singur, it humorized the final nail in Bengal’s industrial coffin. Recruitment in public services has become stagnant.

The periodic examinations like SSC, PSC have come to a pause. The Government has been replacing the permanent jobs by contractual positions.

When the Government and Industry, both shun the job aspirants, the suffer from utter frustration. On the other, the direct bank transfer welfare schemes or the hobnobbing relationship with the party leaders may fetch some handy cash to them.  The government also continues  generous donations to clubs and Puja committees.

Thus, the cash without hard work makes them prone to alcohol.  However, the close association with the rulers gives them impunity also. In exchange, they work as the vote machinery for the rulers. Some of the youths have taken this line, where idleness replaces the hardworking mindset. Yet, the money comes in.

The result is a state where alcohol revenue may be soaring, but social discipline, moral restraint, and public safety are in stake.