We all love to party! Goans are known to celebrate every
little occasion in grand style and seldom do they need a reason to party. A
typical weekend sees popular faces making a beeline for their favourite pubs,
nightclubs or bistros – some, to catch up with their friends and have a good
time, others, simply to let their hair down and de-stress. The Union Budget
2014-15 that was declared few weeks ago brought in additional 5% on the
existing excise tax to be levied on aerated drinks and hiked the excise duty on
tobacco products to 72%. With almost every budget making cigarettes and alcohol
dearer, does it really affect the number of people spending their weekends out?
How much does ‘having a good time’ cost in Goa?
Rajiv’s is a popular face in the nightlife circuit in Goa.
He is seen partying and celebrating life almost every weekend. Ask him how much
he spends every weekend and Rajiv says, “It’s very difficult to say. An
up-market venue will range anywhere from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per head for
F&B. If you’re talking about premium alcohol, then the damages may go up to
Rs 5,000 per head on a weekend night. Thankfully, our group of friends is a
healthy blend of occasional drinkers, teetotalers, smokers and non-smokers. The
total bill is divided equally among us, so we don’t really feel the pinch. But
yes, Goa is becoming expensive.”
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According to locals who like to spend their weekends out on
a regular basis in Goa, a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) costs an individual
anywhere from Rs 2,400 to Rs 3,000 on an average. This includes the cost of
food, beverages and cigarettes. This figure goes up even further during the
tourist season, especially the year-end. While most of these people agree
unanimously that the ‘weekend expenses’ are increasing by the day, they also feel
that going out on weekends is an important ‘engagement’ of their lives. Anisha,
another regular party-goer says, “It is only on weekends that I can meet up
with my friends and chat at leisure. Also, it is important to get rid of the
exhaustion that a typical week puts on me, without which I cannot take on the
oncoming week.”
Sure, socialising makes us feel good. We’re all social
animals and friendly human interaction is all we need to truly make us happy.
But all said and done, can the costs all be justified like an episode of the
popular TV series, ‘The Price is Right’?
(All names have been changed in order to retain the
anonymity of the people questioned)
