Govt bans drinking on Goa beaches

In a move to ensure safety for women, the Goa state tourism department has directed the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) not to allow anybody to step on the beach with alcohol or glass bottles. According to a report by Times of India, the decision to ban liquor and bottles on beaches was conveyed to IRB staff during a fortnightly meeting between tourism department and IRB. IRB has been deployed on the Goa beaches to provide round the clock security. [caption id=“attachment_723815” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  IRB has been deployed on the Goa beaches to provide round the clock security. Reuters[/caption] A senior tourism department official confirmed that this step has been taken to “prevent eve-teasing incidents on the Goan beaches.” Through this decision, the tourism department also wants to stop drunken tourists from breaking bottles on the beach. The department received complaints that tourists are being injured after stepping on the broken glass pieces. The official also said that the IRB has been first asked to politely request people not to take liquor bottles to beaches, and consume alcohol in licensed premises, which includes shacks and hotels. If they refuse then officers have been asked to take the bottles away from the tourists.