Calangute warns against public drinking

Calangute: With the new tourist season starting on October 1, the Calangute panchayat has kicked-off a campaign to create awareness amongst tourists about, “no drinking” in public places and that they can be fined and even arrested if found doing so.

On Thursday, the panchayat published public notices in newspapers informing people not to consume liquor on beaches, streets, roads or any public places and warning individual offenders of fines.

Individual offenders would be fined Rs 2,000 and a fine of Rs 10,000 for those found drinking in groups, stated the public notices. Refusing to pay the fine can attract imprisonment.

Speaking to TOI, Calangute sarpanch, Shawn Martins, said that tourists drinking in public has become a major nuisance in Calangute and does not benefit tourism stakeholders.

“This has been going on for years. Tourists just come, buy alcohol from wholesale wine shops and then go and drink on the beach or on roads and then break bottles and discard them anywhere. Recently the state government amended the Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Act, 2001 making drinking in public places a cognizable offence. The panchayat, along with the police, has decided to strictly enforce this (Act) in Calangute,” Martins said.

“Because tourists may not be aware that liquor cannot be consumed in public areas, we have decided on an awareness campaign for the next one month. We’re going to ask all wine shops in Calangute to display information boards warning tourists not to drink in public. All tourist spots, like restaurants, guest houses, etc. will also be asked to put up signs to inform tourists that drinking in public is not allowed,” Martins added.

“After one month we will start implementing the ban. We hope this will deter tourists from drinking on the beach,” Martins said.