Beach parties in Goa are to be banned over the Christmas and New Year because of security fears following the Mumbai attacks, the authorities in Panaji said on Saturday. "Taking into consideration all the aspects, we have decided that beach parties would not be allowed from December 23 to January 5," Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat told reporters outside his official residence. The decision, after several days of uncertainty, is a blow to the former Portuguese colony, whose year-end parties are a big draw for foreign visitors. Goa's reputation has suffered this year after a string of high-profile crimes, including the death of a British teenager which lifted the lid on a culture of drink and drugs and prompted concerns about safety.