TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
“Our signature campaign is on and the same will be handed over to the government. We will also be complaining to the Election Commissioner because the notification extending the timings came out during the Code of Conduct and request him to take back the notification,” Dr Sabina Martins of Bailacho Saad said, adding that they would send a letter to the Governor and pass a resolution at every village panchayat that there should be no sale of alcohol after 11 pm.
Women are facing a lot of problems due to alcoholism, she said.
The timings for the sale of alcohol for some bars are 9 am and others are from 11 am till 11 pm. But the Government is levying fees amounting to Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh allowing the bars in casinos to be open for 24 hours. In starred hotels, bars are open till 5 am, and other bars are open till 4 am, she alleged, arguing that in the name of tourism and collecting revenue for the State, the government is putting the health of the people at risk.
Adv Norma Alvares said that the promotion of alcohol is also against the policy and pointed out that there were more than 327 liquor advertisements in the State.
Mangala Wagle said that there are 7000 bars in entire Goa and requested the Government to amend the alcohol policy and ensure that bars be closed and there should be no sale of liquor after 11 pm.
