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POLITICS

The Claim

As of May 6, 2026, a senior West Bengal government official (including the Chief Minister of West Bengal) publicly advocated statewide alcohol prohibition in West Bengal, but the Government of West Bengal had not announced any official plan to implement statewide alcohol prohibition.

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The Short Version

The evidence does not show that any senior West Bengal government official, including the Chief Minister, publicly called for statewide alcohol prohibition by May 6, 2026. What is supported is narrower: viral claims about Bengal becoming a dry state were debunked, and the government had discussed only localized liquor-sale restrictions and election-related dry days, not a statewide prohibition plan.

Caveats

  • Speculative media discussion and rumor are not evidence of an official public policy position.
  • Localized liquor restrictions near schools or temples are materially different from statewide alcohol prohibition.
  • Several widely shared posts about West Bengal becoming a dry state were identified as fake or digitally edited.

The Receipts

  1. A viral image circulating on #WhatsApp claims that Union Home Minister @AmitShah has said that West Bengal will become a dry state from ...

    PIB Fact Check

  2. Amit Shah's statement on West Bengal becoming a dry state is fake

    PIB Fact Check

  3. Viral Claim of Alcohol Ban in West Bengal by Amit Shah Is Fake, No Such Announcement Made

    CyberPeace

  4. No, HM Amit Shah Didn't Say West Bengal Would Ban Alcohol Sale ...

    The Quint

  5. A viral image circulating on #WhatsApp claims that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that West Bengal will become a dry state from September 30. ❌ The image is #Fake and digitally edited.

    Zee News English (Instagram)

  6. Bengal to impose ban on liquor shops within 1 km of temples or educational institutes

    indulgexpress

  7. PRESS NOTE – General Elections to Legislative Assemblies and bye-elections 2026: Implementation of Dry Day

    Election Commission of India

  8. Bengal election 2026: Liquor ban, bike restrictions, key rules in place ahead of voting

    International Business Times India

  9. Alcohol prohibition in India

    Wikipedia

  10. An edited news report graphic shared with a claim that Union Minister Amit Shah said he will make West Bengal a dry state

    BOOM

+ 10 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Alcohol ProhibitionChief Minister of West BengalGovernment of West BengalWest Bengal

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