Today, Friday April 24, is not a dry day in Kolkata. Your bar, your liquor shop, your favourite restaurant’s drinks menu — all open and operating normally today.
But tomorrow, Saturday April 25, is a dry day. And if you are planning an evening out this weekend, you need to know this before you make a reservation.
Why Tomorrow Is a Dry Day
West Bengal’s Phase 2 elections are scheduled for April 29. Under the Election Commission of India’s standard directive, all liquor outlets must remain closed for 48 hours before the conclusion of polling in the relevant constituencies.
Here is where it gets specific to your area. Several constituencies in the greater Kolkata belt — including areas in South 24 Parganas and parts of the Kolkata district boundary — have polling dates that trigger the 48-hour dry window beginning April 25. Additionally, the overlapping dry periods from the Kolkata Phase 2 constituencies voting on April 29 create a rolling closure that will affect large parts of the city through the end of the month.
The Full Dry Day Picture for Kolkata This Week
Today — Friday April 24: Open. No dry day restrictions in central Kolkata.
Tomorrow — Saturday April 25: Dry day in areas where the 48-hour pre-poll window applies for constituencies voting ahead of April 29 polling.
Sunday April 26 through Tuesday April 29: Dry day in Phase 2 polling constituencies including most of central Kolkata — Chowringhee, Bhabanipur, Kasba, Jadavpur, Tollygunge, Behala and others.
Park Street and New Market area specifically: Closed from April 24 through 7:30 PM on April 29 — a five-day stretch covering both phase constituencies.
May 4 — Counting day: Statewide dry day across all of West Bengal.
What About Online Delivery
Online liquor delivery through Swiggy Genie, Zomato and other platforms is also prohibited in areas where dry day orders are in force. If tomorrow is a dry day in your constituency, delivery apps will not be able to fulfil alcohol orders from your location either.
The Simple Rule to Remember
Check which assembly constituency your address falls under. If that constituency votes on April 29 or any date before it, the 48-hour rule applies backwards from the end of polling — and your dry day window has either started or is starting tomorrow.
Today is your last open day before the election weekend dry window begins in most of Kolkata. Plan accordingly.
Disclaimer: Specific dry day dates vary by assembly constituency. Readers are advised to verify with the West Bengal Excise Directorate or local authorities for exact closure timings applicable to their specific area.