Liquor is part of Goa's culture: BJP leader

Goa BJP leader Dr Wilfred Mesquita has dismissed the possibility of Goa toeing the line of Kerala, which is outlining a ban on sale and consumption of alcohol in a phased manner, saying that consuming liquor is part of the culture.

Goa BJP leader Dr Wilfred Mesquita has dismissed the possibility of Goa toeing the line of Kerala, which is outlining a ban on sale and consumption of alcohol in a phased manner, saying that consuming liquor is a part of the state's culture.

HT Image

"The law cannot come to Goa. Goans drink at wedding and parties. How can it be banned?" Mesquita said while responding to a query on possibility of the state imposing a liquor ban on par with Kerala.

Mesquita, who is also the party spokesperson, was speaking in presence of Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar during a press conference yesterday. "It's not possible to enact the same law in Goa," he said. His statement comes in after senior minister Sudin Dhavalikar had said that pub is not Goa's culture and it should be banned.

Endorsing Dhavalikar, Union minister of state for tourism, Shripad Naik too had said that pub culture in Goa should be controlled. Naik's statement was also supported by BJP's women wing which had said that excessive pub culture is bad for the society.

Announcing the decision, chief minister Oommen Chandy had said the Cabinet would formally ratify the decision in its next meeting.