Drinking or cooking food openly on any of the popular beaches in Goa can now cost you a fine of up to ₹50,000. The Goa tourism department has placed a ban on several activities like drinking, etc, on the beaches, in a bid to refine the tourism industry.

Besides drinking openly, the ban has also been imposed on activities such as inappropriate hawking activities, illegitimate selling of tickets by water sports operators and setting up of unauthorized beach beds on several Goa beaches.

With a motive to combat with the practices that damage the tourism potentiality of the state, the Goa tourism director, Nikhil Desai has restricted the unauthorized selling of tickets for the water sports activities taking place outside the state i.e. in Karwar (Karnataka) and Malvan (Maharashtra).

Furthermore, inappropriate canvassing activities by the hawkers, beggars and touts often impede the free movement of tourists, hampering their tourism experience and adversely affecting the state's reputation.

As per the formal order issued by the tourism department on Monday miscreants who are found violating the norms would be fined between ₹5000 to ₹50,000 depending on their offence. The authorities could also take action against the flouters under section 188 of IPC.

After the ban, tourists will be able to access water sports activities from government-authorized sellers. Moreover, tourists will be encouraged to drink and eat within the shacks and other beachside establishments that are legal.