Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Over the past few years, as many as 269 liquor stores that are within 100 meters of schools or places of worship have received permits from succeeding governments, igniting debate about the establishments’ close proximity to hallowed spaces.
The coastal Pernem region has the most of these outlets—63—while Ponda, a temple town, has 61 outlets. The total also includes 15 licenses that have been granted in the last five years, from 2020 to the present.
These licenses were granted by the Commissioner with prior government approval, according to the response submitted by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in response to a starred question from MLA Chandrakant Shetye.
The Goa government recently changed the Goa Excise Duty Rules to add a 100% license and renewal fee to liquor licenses granted to establishments that are 100 meters or less from places of worship or educational institutions.
The move generated discussion, with opposition leaders charging the government with encouraging the sale of alcohol close to places of worship. In response, Sawant made it clear that the rule had been in effect since 1980 and that permissions had been given by various administrations, including Congress, on an individual basis.
The Chief Minister responded on the House floor, stating that in the previous five years, the Excise Department had granted 15 new licenses to bars and liquor stores located 100 meters or less from schools throughout the State. This comprises six licenses in Salcete in 2021, one license in Bardez, Tiswadi, and Ponda in 2023, and one license each in Bicholim and Mormugao in 2020. In Quepem in 2020 and 2021, Canacona in 2022, and Sanguem in 2024, licenses were granted.
