Department

The State being under the Portuguese rule for a very long time and it being a place of tourist interest, it is considered as place of enjoyment where no sort of prohibition was ever introduced. Many people of late have adopted, atleast partially, a western way of living, and the consumption of liquor is on a wide scale.

All the demands in quality liquors was made from imports in former days. All the units of distillery and brewery were established after liberation. These units undertake manufacture of beer, whisky, brandy, wine and various kinds of liquors.

Goa is the only region which use cashew apple for preparation of liquor. The juice of the cashew apple which is collected in vats is allowed to remain for a few days to ferment. The fermented juice is distilled in simple stills to produce urrack, a low alcohol beverage. Second distillation of the product with more juice produces feni, a liquor which is between 28 to 35 under proof. Since the manufacturing of liquor from toddy and cashew juice form important sources of revenue, the Talukas have been divided into zones and the zonal areas have been allotted to Excise Guards to supervise the toddy tapping and manufacture of cashew liquor during the cashew season.

In due course of time, liquor industry flourished in Goa. Besides the natural beauty, availability of liquor was one of the major attraction for tourism industry in Goa. In this conjunction, in order to maintain a proper check and control over liquor manufactured, sold imported and exported in Goa, the Goa Daman and Diu Excise Duty Act, 1964 was brought into force on 27th October 1964 and The Goa Daman and Diu (Excise Duty) Rules, 1964 on 01st December 1964.

The Excise Department is headed by the Commissioner of Excise with his headquarters at Panaji. He is assisted in his work by one additional Commissioner, two Assistant Commissioners and eight Superintendent of Excise along with Excise Inspectors, Sub-inspectors, Excise Guards and Assistant Excise Guards besides other administrative staff.

The Excise Department, besides the head office at Panaji has established eleven subordinate offices (Excise Station) in each of the Taluka Headquarters of the Districts of Goa. The Department, for administrative convenience, has been divided into two wings viz Administrative and Executive.

At the headquarters both the wings are controlled and supervised by the Assistant Commissioner of Excise under the directions of the Commissioner of Excise. At the Taluka level, the Excise Inspector controls both the administrative as well as the executive wings of the Department.

At the distillery, brewery, winery, factory manufacturing Indian made foreign liquor/ medicinal/ Toilet preparations an Inspector of Excise has been posted permanently who is the incharge of the manufacturing unit.

In addition, there are five Excise check posts located at Patradevi & Naibag (Pernem), Dodamarg (Bicholim), Mollem (Sanguem), Pollem (Canacona) and one Excise outpost Keri (Sattari) to check the movement of liquor in and out of the State of Goa.

Ref: Gazetteer of the Union Territory Goa, Daman and Diu Part I Goa,

Gazetteer of India, First Edition