Bangkok Post: Nightspots forced to shut earlier

[Breakfast Clubber 4.0]

Organic - think you have taken the one line a little out of context .... did say 'IF' this results in more revenue for Thai's.... and that is a very big IF!

You point on low-end tourism is valid and I certainly remember those days fondly and indeed did shape future travel plans and recommendations. Still hold the view that this all about true ownership of entertainment venues (as it is so lucrative) and that the social order policy is merely a smokescreen.

Note: ABC and Channel News Asia news carried story on TV, so at least the Aussie's and Singaporean's will be informed now.

 

[wraeth - PHA]

Hot off the Press

Midnight curfew rule postponed for further review

Published on Mar 1, 2004


BANGKOK, March 1 (The Nation) -- Thai night entertainment establishments operators have won a reprieve from a government plan to impose a midnight curfew, according to government official.

Last month the Cabinet approved a regulation that will close all venues outside specified entertainment zones, including bars, clubs, restaurants and massage parlors, at midnight instead of 2 a.m. in its campaign to curb youth crime and restore traditional values.

Today, the government appeared to backtrack on its plan, saying it was still open to review.

The Cabinet will reconsider this matter during its meeting on tomorrow, government spokeswoman Sansanee Nakphong said.

 

[QuestionGeek]

Midnight closing reprieve for venues

Published on Mar 3, 2004


Night entertainment venues licensed before January 13, 2004, would not be subject to new midnight closing rules, under draft regulations approved yesterday by the Cabinet.

The new provisions also stipulate that no new night spots would be allowed to open outside designated entertainment zones in Bangkok and other cities after the rules take effect.

The draft rules on entertainment venues’ opening and closing times require all establishments licensed before January 13 to close at 1 am. Exceptions include night clubs and bars, subject to 2 am closings, and lounges, restaurants, tea houses and massage parlours, which would have to close at midnight.

Any new entertainment locales licensed after January 13, but before the new statutes take effect in April, and that are located outside designated zones would be subject to the midnightclosing time.

The regulations don’t stray much from current laws requiring pubs, discotheques, massageplanetes, restaurants with live bands, and cabarets to close at 1 am. In spite of the law on the books, most of them generally stretch out their closing times until 2 am.

In January, the Cabinet assigned Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsomboon to conduct a study on closing times. His solution was to apply a zonesensitive midnight closing, a controversial proposal abandoned yesterday.

During the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Purachai argued that the government should stick to the zoning approach he originally proposed.

But Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the government preferred to focus on night spots with illegal activities on their premises. Any clubs found breaking the law outside the zones would be forced to close at midnight.

The new regulations would take effect April 1 and all entertainment venues would be required to request new licenses from the Ministry by March 13, Pracha said.

After April 1, the Ministry would not allow new night spots to open outside designated entertainment zones, according to Pracha.

The regulations designate entertainment zones in every province except Chiang Mai, Uttaradit, Samut Prakan, and Lamphun.

Bangkok has only three established entertainment districts – Patpong, New Petchburi and Ratchadaphisek. Some business owners on Khao San Road and Sukhumvit Road recently demanded that their areas be designated as entertainment zones too.

Additional ministerial regulations on entertainment zones were likely to be submitted for the Cabinet’s approval this month, said Vichien Chavalit, of the Department of Provincial Administration’s investigative and legal affairs bureau.

Chanya Saipornchai, owner of Krungthon Entertainment Complex in Bangkok, said nightentertainment businesses owners and employees would gather in front of the government house at 5am today to thank the government for allowing night spots to stay open past midnight.

But she added that even though entertainment spots would close at 1am, the government should allow customers to stay and drink until 2am.

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

 

[Pompal 09.]

And who watches the ABC?? Not too many Aussies that would be interested in nightlife in Thailand thats for sure.

 

[Nate]

According to the last news on the Phuket Gazette (www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=3359) the uncertainty about the new closing times goes on.

The news reports:
"New closing times are expected to be imposed in April. K. Wisut confirmed that entertainment facilities in large hotels will close at 2 am, other venues will shut at 1 am, and massage parlors will have a midnight deadline.

Large hotels are apparently given the leeway to open until 2 am because – so the theory goes – they attract wealthy people and foreign tourists, not the teenagers that the Better Social Order Policy aims to protect.

The closing times are not dependent on a venue’s location – whether it is inside or outside an entertainment zone."

Any news from Patong about that.

 

[harxy]

In the Nation article posted above they also stated:



And also 2 o clock is what I have heard from Police here, so I guess things will be pretty much same before except that we have to apply for the new license at 50 or 100,000 baht each and no new licenses will be handed out outside the zones after this deadline.

I talked with a barowner from Gonzo yesterday, he said he will not apply or pay for this new license, if more people do like him, we may see a few bars closing down the coming months.

 

[Jay T (UK)]

I hear from a good source that there may be a twist to all of this still, I dont know anymore than that at the moment, nor do I know how much of a twist there will be, but as soon as I hear anymore I will put it up, hopefully today or tomorrow.
Fingers crossed

 

[sandra]

Nicke,

The wife went to change the name on a license yesterday, and was told bar beers license 30K and gogo's 50K, these are a one off fee. There was talk about if its 2am closing for Patong then these new license fee will not be passed on, but they are expecting later than 2am to allowed for Patong, so then the new licensing fees will be applied. God only knows.

I guess there is so much if but maybes being passed around, that no one really knows where they stand. Sounds like we will all know 1st April. That date doesnt really have the same meaning in Thailand as it does to us farang.

Steve

 

[Jas]

These new licenses are confusing. I have one paper left to give authorities (I applied yesterday) but they also wanted tabian baan, I will give them tomorrow.

But another barowner from Soi Eric was there today and when all papers were complete, they asked what "options" they wanted, there was two options at 50,000 baht each and it was possible to take both of them, thus, 100,000 baht. They didnt understand these options but I hope I will hear more about it tonight.

Besides, different kind of papers are around bar owners in Patong. We got 1-page papers, Soi Crocodile bars got a 3 page form, and yesterday Soi Crocodile bars got another paper of a new Whiskey License (?) with deadline March 16.
And many bars don't get any paper or information at all and some are even not aware of these new licenses. The whole situation is very confusing.

 

[NoLuv4Hoes]

Sounds like the goverment have planned this whole thing from the start Nicke as a way of making money just for the sake of it , perhaps they dont actually care that much about the social problems thailand faces at all , they just want $$$$$ at the end of it

 

[laurafbbyx3]

My God, it sounds like they might be thinking of treating each soi differently. I bloody well hope not, again!!

Steve