You might not be able to drink at Goa's beaches
Goa will soon ban alcohol consumption in public places to minimize drunken brawls and related nuisance, state chief minister Manohar Parrikar announced on Sunday. The required amendments to the Goa, Daman and Diu Excise Act, 1964, will be made in October, said Parrikar. The state is presently monitoring the licences of liquor stores under the act.
Notification to come out by October end
"We need to come out with a notification to ban drinking of liquor in public places. It will be issued by October end for which we will amend the existing law," said Manohar Parrikar.
3,000 Goa liquor shops had shut operations after SC ban
About 3,000 alcohol outlets in Goa had shut down in April this year after the Supreme Court's nationwide ban on all liquor stores located within 500 metres of state and national highways. Another 11,000 outlets (including wholesalers and retailers) were granted permission by the excise department to sell liquor in the state.
Goa not the first state to ban liquor consumption
There is already a ban on drinking alcohol in select public places in Goa including beaches. Besides, Goa is not the first Indian state to prohibit alcohol consumption either. Bihar imposed a total ban on drinking liquor anywhere in the state on April 5 last year. It was the fourth Indian state to do so after Gujarat, Nagaland and Lakshadweep.
Not just drinking, biking without helmets will be penalized too
Goa, infamous for the lackadaisical attitudes of vacationers, is trying to tighten its grip on the law and order situation. Along with cracking down on drinking in public places, the state police has also been notified to penalize two-wheeler riders who are found without helmets, said Parrikar. The offenders will be informed of the benefits of wearing helmets while riding, said the chief minister.
