Hy’bad  liquor retailers struggle with 100-metre rule

Liquor retailers and bar owners within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) are facing mounting challenges due to the enforcement of the 100-metre distance rule between liquor outlets and hospitals or educational institutions.

With the licence application deadline fast approaching in June, many shop owners are unsure whether to apply, as finding eligible locations has become difficult amid Hyderabad’s rapid urbanisation and growing healthcare infrastructure. Several existing outlets are now being forced to relocate even before their licences expire.

Although waivers have been allowed in municipalities and rural areas, the rule remains strictly enforced within municipal corporation limits. Notably, the excise department is now applying the distance requirement not just to new applications but also to first-year renewals—impacting long standing businesses if a new hospital opens nearby.

Due to high rents and limited options within city limits, more liquor licence applications are being filed from suburbs and districts, reflecting a regulatory shift in urban areas.