The government recently announced plans to mark certain zones on the beaches of Goa as
picnic zones where consumption of alcohol would be allowed. Were all
stakeholders taken into confidence? Was this a well thought out move. Café dives in to speak to those who have a thing or two to say
Did the government ever initiate action against those drinking
on the beach? We banned cooking on the road, was anything done to ensure it did
not happen. The Calangute MLA was the only one who tried to ask the police to
take action. All this is just to fool the public. Look it is very difficult,
there has to be a will and a desire to do it. Do they have the manpower to
check the beaches on Saturday and Sunday? There are hardly any traffic police
on these days. Going for picnics is very popular amongst Goans, the idea with
this ban was to deter tourists from drinking and there was no intention to stop
consumption of alcohol amongst those on a picnic
– SAVIO MESSIAS, President TTAG
Yes, there was a statement but we have no details and we don’t
know the broad contours. We are waiting for instructions and will work on it
once we get it
– NIKHIL DESAI, Managing Director GTDC
I believe it has to be open to everyone and allow everyone to
drink or don’t allow consumption in public. If Goa does this it will kill
tourism. If it is stopped all over then one of the pillars that support tourism
will be removed. I will go on to say that if you allow it in public especially
in the general areas on the beach then have conditions. Systems have to put in
place
– SHIVAM VARMA GM, Royal Orchid Beach Resort
It is good if the govt has decided. it is good to have specific
areas. Anything that happens to promote tourism is good. I will end by saying
it is a good move by the government.
VINCENT RAMOS, Area Director of Taj Goa and GM at Taj Exotica
Resort & Spa
It is not a bad idea. I believe in places like Candolim and
Calangute it will certainly help, it all depends on how they will. However I
would like to add that the manner in which they went and made this decision was
not right. They should have talked to people in the industry, we have the TTAG.
That was needed
– PRASAD KANOJ GMCaravela beach resort
I don’t mind if there are certain zones. The people of Goa love
to go for picnics, years ago I used to go with friends and have bonfires in the
night and sleeping over. It is only the nuisance created by people coming from
up north which was the reason behind the ban on drinking in public. The shacks
are on the beach and people take the beer lie on the deck chairs. It is the
people who walk on the roads drinking beer and then eve-tease that has to stop.
People drinking on the beach should not happen, domestic tourists misbehave. I
don’t think reserving certain areas for drinking is in the right spirit
– MILTON MARQUES, Owner Alcove Resorts
A good move and I think they should have a gazebo kind of thing
with a dustbin. People today are littering all over the place. I was at the
Baga beach with my family and I deposited 10 bottles and cans in the dustbin. I
have travelled all over the world and I have never seen such behaviour
– NIKHIL CHABBRA GM The Sea Horse Resort
I personally think, it’s a good commercial idea if the
enforcement is strong. When I wear my puritan hat, no activity on beach should
be allowed, despite the fact, I do go to beach restaurants and enjoy it much.
–
ANNAD CHATTERJEE GM Planet Hollywood Goa
