As a Goan, I sympathise will all those mourning the ban on public drinking in Goa.
Most of us picture breezy beaches, simmering sea and a chilled King’s beer when we think of Goa. We think of Goa with gulps of thirst on warm summer afternoons or overstressed office days. It stands as a glimmer of hope, and yet that hope may soon dwindle away as the Manohar Parrikar led government has banned liquor in public places to curb nuisance among the revellers.
The state has earned itself a notorious reputation. While we enjoy the pleasures, we also assume that Goans brush their teeth with beer every morning, and have replaced water in their kitchen with spirits.
Justifying the decision, Goa’s Town and Country Planning Minister Vijay Sardesaisaid, “Goa is a party destination, but we don’t want people to think anything and everything is allowed here. We want good tourists to come in.”
While this may affect the part scene in Goa, the intention behind the decision is to make the state a safe destination. Cases of safety of women and foreigners were on the rise in recent years. The decision only aims for responsible drinking.
If we wish to turn Goa into a world class tourist destination, we also need to realise that even cities like Las Vegas prohibit public drinking. If the city with the loudest parties follows this law, it just shows that responsible drinking is not medieval, but very relevant.
But it still reveals an archaic attitude towards alcohol in our society. While we have equated drinking with the new age symptom of a liberalised economy and aspirational India, we also don’t hesitate to judge those who drink. State after state goes after drinking as the root of all evils, inching towards prohibition and banning its sale within 500m of highways.
While alcohol has become an accepted social lubricant, even in formal office parties, yet we still place advertisements on non-drinking partners on matrimonial sites. The government’s decision has only added more ‘chakna’ to this confusion over drinking and drinking attitudes in our country.
The notification by Goa Government will be issued by October end after the necessary amendments in the existing law. Goa has already announced ban on drinking in selected public places including beaches.
There seems no respite from this state policing in the near future. Till the decision starts having repercussions on tourist inflows, the state will continue to prioritise safety, as it should.
If you are going to have to drink in the secrecy of your rooms, then Goa no longer has the freedom it had to offer. And yet, it has much more to offer beyond the beaches. The state is only going over a make-over in its reputation. Please be patient with it.
