the goan I network
PANAJI
In a move to clamp down on people creating nuisance in public after consuming liquor, the Excise Department has moved a proposal to the State Government, which when approved will result in an almost total ban on public consumption of alcohol in the State and which will also ensure that people will be able to drink only in their homes or at places like restaurants, shacks, hotels provided they have alcohol license.
Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, had recently said that soon there would be a heavy fine on those found drinking in public places from August 15.
Sources further informed that in the case of shacks, people will be allowed to drink inside the premises of shacks and also within few meters from it.
However, in the case of hotels and restaurants, people will be allowed to drink only inside the premises.
The State Government is mulling a ban on public consumption of liquor for a while now. Most states of India have law, which prohibits people from consuming alcohol publicly, on roads, bus-stops, parks and any other public places.
So far Goa has been an exception because there is no law, which clearly puts a ban on public drinking. On one hand, this makes Goa more liberal than other parts of India when it comes to alcohol consumption. But, on the other hand, several cases of people creating nuisance publicly after consuming liquor have also been reported.
Sources said that the Excise Department has given an exhaustive list of places in the state, where alcohol consumption shouldn’t be allowed. The same proposal is likely to be approved and a notification to that effect will possibly be issued by the State Government during the upcoming monsoon session.
Sometime back the government had allowed the Excise Department to declare ‘No Alcohol Consumption Zones’ in the State.
It appears that the Excise Department has finally declared those zones in the proposal, which is going to become effective very soon.
