TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a move that could be jolt a section of the tourism industry and prove a damper for the state’s sometimes famed and often infamous nightlife, the government has directed that all bars and restaurants besides the A, B and C categories should stop serving liquor by 1 am, withdrawing the earlier 5 am deadline that was in force.
The normal hours during which liquor can be served is 11 pm. However, the government had allowed serving of liquor till 5 am on payment of extra fees.
Many places such as discos and pubs had applied for permission to serve liquor for extended hours – till 5 am.
However, now only A, B or C category outlets can keep them open till this time .
The state is known, but generally infamous, for its night parties, and on the seamier side, its drugs and trance parties fuelled by corruption in the implementing agencies.
This is also a bid to restrict the low budget tourists who pick up cheap liquor from wholesale outlets and drink on the road, on the beaches and in their vehicles.
Many of the low budget tourists even cook by the roadside and use the open grounds or their vehicles to sleep.
The government has also curtailed the timing of liquor outlets that serve packed bottles to 9 pm from the earlier allowed 11 pm.
According to officials the complaint by the industry is that customers pick up liquor from many of these outlets like wine stores and then sit and drink anywhere affecting the business of the hotel industry.
These are mainly wholesalers who are supposed to sell liquor in bulk, said officials, as an explanation for the decision.
The notification has already been sent by the Excise Department, Excise Commissioner Menino D’ Souza confirmed.
