Over 1300 liquor permits granted in Goa in last 4.5 yrs

Panaji, July 31: Goa's BJP-led government has granted 1,368 licenses for liquor outlets in the state and suspended 293 permits in its four-and-half year tenure.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the State Legislative Assembly here that currently there are 10,911 liquor sale licences across the state.

He was responding to a question tabled on the floor of the House by BJP MLA Glenn Ticlo. As per the reply, a total 439 licenses have been issued for retail sale of both Indian made foreign liquor and foreign liquor consumption since 2012.

Government has granted permission for 284 outlets for retail sale of foreign made liquor consumption. There are 802 licenses operational in the state.

Currently, there are 204 valid licenses issued to wholesale of Indian made foreign liquor while 46 licenses to foreign liquor whole sale, the CM said.

The government figures revealed that Bardez taluka has the highest number of liquor licenses 3,361, followed by Salcette (2172) and Tiswadi (1278).

The rural Sattari has the lowest number of licenses - 228, followed by Sanguem 326. According to latest National Family Health Survey, alcohol consumption has gone up in Goa as compared to 2005-06.

PTI