Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recently informed the legislative assembly that the state government is considering banning the sale of glass liquor bottles near beaches, due to concerns over tourists being injured by broken glass shards. The proposal involves replacing glass bottles with cans at wine stores close to beaches. This discussion arose in response to BJP MLA Michael Lobo, who highlighted frequent injuries caused by broken glass on the beaches.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte added that the current law allows authorities to impose fines ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 on individuals caught littering on the beaches, as littering is classified as a nuisance. Khaunte emphasized that wine store customers are not permitted to consume alcohol in public places, yet some choose to disregard these rules, contributing to the problem of broken glass and public nuisance.
Additionally, the state environment department is working on notifying a new scheme that will require wine stores to charge a refundable deposit fee for glass bottles. This deposit will be refunded to customers who return the bottles, providing an incentive for responsible disposal. The minister confirmed that this scheme will be officially notified and implemented soon to address concerns around environmental safety and public health on the beaches.