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Check on sale of liquor in Goa irks tourists

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Mayuresh Pawar Mumbai/ Panaji
Last Updated : Feb 05 2013 | 1:05 AM IST
Goa, known for fun, fiesta and the fenny culture, is running dry and has that left the party animals high and dry, thanks to the Election Commission of India (EC).
 
The EC has instructed the state Excise Department to set a deadline of 10 pm to serve liquor for the wine stores and restaurants in view of the Goa assembly elections.
 
The EC had earlier ordered the Excise Department to down the shutters by 11 pm. However, it issued another deadline to shut down the wine stores and bars by 10 pm.
 
People in Goa, including foreigners, are annoyed with the EC's decision. "It is surprising that I am not able to drink even a glass of beer..., The whole day I was lying on the beach and now I wanted to party with my friends. But the bar and restaurants are not serving liquors. What have we (foreigners) got to do with the local elections," asks Freddie Hicks, a tourist from London.
 
A new government guideline to keep a list of the names and addresses of everyone who buys from a wine store is something they find impractical. Some have been informally told by excise officials to even check the identity of buyers.
 
Even liquor sellers have no reason to say cheers. "I have seen so many elections in the state and have never came across such a decision. I would have understood it on the dry days during polling and counting. I am totally surprised by the EC's directions," says Manoj Joshi, owner of Joshi Wines in Panaji.
 
But, the Election Commission feels that it needs to put a lid on rampant liquor sales. "These measures were important to ensure that there are no bulk sales of liquor, specially to political parties and candidates," said R S Negi, Chief Election Officer.
 
Shop owners have downed their shutters in protest and bar owners have stopped serving. Goa's liquor lobby, however, is not prepared to accept thE dry run and have announced an indefinite strike.
 
A loss of nearly Rs 50 lakh daily is caused to the state exchequer, because of the strike called by owners of wine shops and wholesale liquor dealers and restrictions on serving liquor, said senior official from state excise department.
 
The owner of one of the most happening restaurants from Goa, 'Titos', at Baga beach and known for parties which goes till wee hours of morning David Tito said, "Considering the tourist season, we had planned various events well in advance and booked the DJs and bands from Mumbai and Bangalore well in advance but because of these 10 PM restrictions, there is a considerable fall in turn-out of guests and we are incurring huge losses every day."
 
BJP's chief ministerial candidate Manohar Parrikar said, "This is absolutely foolish decision of election commission, in Goa more liquor is consumed by the tourists than Goans who have nothing to do with local elections. This will definitely affect Goa's reputation as tourist Paradise."

 

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