Drinking in public in Goa will soon invite heavy fine

Panjim, July 17

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has announced that the government would soon be issuing a notification regarding imposing a heavy fine on drinking alcohol in public.

"Mind you, there will be a heavy fine if you are found drinking (in public) from the month of August. We're issuing a notification very soon. I intend to do it before August, so that we can implement it from August 15," Parrikar said in a function here.

Chief Minister Parrikar also warned that littering the state with beer bottles would also attract a steeper fine.

"Same way littering will also have a heavy fine of Rs 2,500. I have caught two-three college students going there with beer bottles. This is not done," Parrikar said.

He further said that bottles thrown on the rocks along the riverfront were putting other people at risk.

Earlier this year, the Chief Minister sparked controversy after he, during an interaction with students, had chided girls for drinking beer. ANI