Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:38am on 17 Aug 2026,Monday India
Restaurants and bars in Kolkata may be allowed to operate for longer hours during festivals if the state government accepts a proposal from the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI). The association has sought automatic permission for licensed establishments to serve customers until 2am, instead of the current midnight limit for alcohol service. It has also proposed allowing service until 4am on occasions such as New Year’s Eve, Christmas Eve and other notified celebrations. NRAI said longer hours could boost tourism, spending and government revenue. The state will examine the proposal, particularly its impact on revenue and law and order. (PC: X)
