Goa government will now allow bars to stay open till 4 am

The Goa government on Tuesday relaxed excise norms to enable bars and alcohol outlets to stay open till 4 a.m. on payment of an additional fee.

The move also makes things easier for the three million tourists who arrive in Goa annually to soak in the night life around the state's coastal party spots.

According to a gazette notification issued Tuesday, outlets selling alcohol can stay open till 4 a.m. for a fee of Rs.2 lakh per annum in addition to the annual licence fee.

Liquor vendors can keep their stores open till 1 a.m. on payment of an additional Rs.50,000.

Bars with a normal licence could earlier stay open till 11 p.m.

The new excise norms were listed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in his budget presented in the assembly in March this year.