Goa: Not a single case since public drinking ban

Panaji, March 27 (IANS) In the last 11 months since drinking in public places was banned in Goa, often referred to as the country's nightlife and party capital, not a single case has been booked for downing alcohol publicly.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the Goa legislative assembly in a written reply on Thursday that from April 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015, forty raids were conducted by the State Excise department, which regulates sale of alcohol, but not a single raid warranted a booking.

"For the period April 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015, forty checks have been carried out by Excise Department, which did not warrant booking of cases under Goa Excise Duty Act, 1964," Parsekar said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in the state had promised to curb drinking in public last year, claiming that increased instances of drunken brawls and unruly behaviour by the tourists drinking in public needed to be curbed.

Goa, one of the top beach tourism destinations in the country, is also known for its cheap alcohol tax regime.

The state attracts nearly three million tourists every year.