In a positive development for air travelers, the Goa government has implemented a fresh revision to the Goa Excise Duty Rules, permitting licensed retail liquor establishments at airports to remain open 24/7. According to a report by TOI, this decision, aimed at facilitating activities at the Manohar International Airport, has ignited extensive discussions and deliberations. The government’s action has garnered endorsement as well as apprehensions from different participants within the liquor industry.
The matter gained prominence in the monsoon session as worries were brought up in the legislative assembly. Vijai Sardesai, an MLA from the GFP, raised inquiries regarding the suggested alteration. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, in response to the question, pointed out that retail liquor shops at airports are widespread throughout the nation, making a case for applying the same regulation to the Manohar International Airport. Nonetheless, Sardesai stressed the importance of exclusively awarding such licenses to residents of Goa.
“On airport, licensed premises for retail sale of liquor may be kept open for 24 hours,” the announcement said.
The notification also outlines the fees and additional expenses that the airport’s bars, bar-cum-restaurants, and liquor outlets are required to settle.
Additionally, the government has eased the licensing stipulation for airports, wherein surprise inspections by government officials are no longer feasible. Furthermore, the prerequisite of having a domicile certificate indicating 25 years of residency in the state, which was mandatory for acquiring a license from the Mopa Planning and Development Authority (MPDA), has now been made less stringent.
While an individual is restricted to establishing just one liquor store in a single village or town within the state, the Mopa Planning and Development Authority permits an individual to initiate an unrestricted count of stores.
Furthermore, the amendment mandates separate fee arrangements for bar-cum-restaurants and retail liquor outlets situated at airports.
As the decision continues to evolve, it keeps generating discussions among the diverse stakeholders, mirroring the ongoing conversations regarding alcohol regulation and business within the state.