Drinking culture
Every society has evolved its own drinking culture and patterns, enmeshed in its socio-cultural factors. Over the years Goa has had a very liberal attitude culture, given its colonial past. But these liberal attitudes can in no way rationalize the drinking patterns and behaviour as seen today.
Even during the Portuguese regime there was restriction on the number of bars per kilometre and licences issued. Today in stark contrast, bars and liquor shops will singularly outnumber most other businesses in Goa. It is not only that the liberal drinking culture supports the tourism industry, depending on what kind of tourism culture we wish to promote, but even locals are increasingly getting afflicted by diseases associated with consumption of alcohol.
Throughout history, alcohol and its effects have been seen in various societies, but the kind of society we fashion depends on the moderation and regulation of alcohol. In its Wednesday edition, Herald carried a photograph of recklessly discarded glass liquor bottles heaped outside the Francisco Luis Gomes park at Campal by so called merrymakers, who show no concern for the sacredness of the public space and those who use it. Such heaps of broken bottles are a common site near the old Campal stadium, infront of Goa Science Centre, the parapets near Adarsh colony, at beaches, waterfalls and streams. Ironically, many a times such drinking takes place even as police vans do their night patrols.
Social drinking has been a part of Goan culture, especially in its connotation of casual drinking in a social setting without an intent to get drunk. It is all jolly well to celebrate good news with a group, with a few drinks on some joyous occasion, though some may have serious objection to this. Buying someone a drink is a gesture of goodwill, gratitude or it may mark the resolution of a dispute. But there are also ample instances of fights and disputes erupting over drinks.
Therefore even in English society, etiquette guidelines were developed by a journalist which were then published in newspapers and even hung at pubs and bars throughout the United Kingdom.
Though these may not be relevant to our context, the important lesson from this happening is the need to regulate the drinking culture in Goa and evolve some etiquette, so as not to violate the rights of others. These rules of social etiquette would not only be good in themselves, but good even for those choosing to celebrate at street corners, which is a common site these days.
Though banning alcohol altogether is not advisable, since it leads to a huge illicit liquor business as seen in Gujarat and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, the Goa government and people need to ensure that drinking at public places by groups (except for picnics) should be discouraged due to serious consequences this involves. Secondly, police patrols should crack down on gangs of drinkers at roadside benches, gardens and other public places during the day or night, whether they are locals or tourists, since it makes the lives of passersby unsafe. Third, they should also be asked to compulsorily clean the refuse.
It is essential that policy makers have to deal with this touchy subject with a clear understanding of the socio-cultural functions and meanings of drinking and why it has to be restricted to bars, restaurants, homes, hotels and certain places, like in many states of India. There is ample evidence of tourists throwing empty glass bottles from moving vehicles. Almost all rivers, streams are strewn with glass pieces which cause injury to others. To begin with, all liquor companies should be made to manufacture only plastic bottles if they are allowed to be sold in retail.
Much as each one may love their favourite drinks, it does not given anyone the licence, to drink at public places and discard glass bottles in spaces that would pose a threat to other citizens. Our social etiquettes define the quality of the citizens that we are or wish to be. For this let all of us make a small beginning.
