Debate simmers over proposed 4am bar closings

[webfact]

Debate simmers over proposed 4am bar closings

By The Nation

 

 

Nightspots in Phuket’s Patong area welcome the idea to stay open until 4am, though the government has been advised to first study the possible negative ramifications carefully.

 

Operators of businesses there catering to the nightlife crowd welcomed Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn’s recent suggestion that pubs in some tourist destinations be allowed to stay open the extra two hours, likely bringing an income boost of perhaps 20 per cent while curbing police bribery. 

 

However, former Tourism Council of Thailand president Ittirit Kinglake urged Phiphat to study the idea thoroughly to ensure there will be no negative social, cultural or environmental impacts.

 

Patong Development Foundation president Preechawut Keesin, who has for years pushed for extended operating hours, thanked Phiphat for his proposal. 

 

“It shows that he knows what he’s doing. He probably sees how our country can become competitive in proposing 4am closings for just international tourist destinations, not the whole country,” Preechawut said, noting that supporting businesses such as taxi drivers would also benefit.

 

He estimated Phuket tourism income would increase by 10-20 per cent, while Patong – especially the one-square-kilometre Soi Bang La area – would “turn into gold”. 

 

Soi Bang La has no schools or temples nearby, he added, so all that’s needed is for everyone to cooperate in ensuring security and cleanliness.

 

Preechawut expressed concern that rogue bribe-taking officials might try and have the proposal dismissed. “Don’t let this group use legal loopholes to reap personal gains and make Bt30 million a month at the expense of the country losing the Bt300 billion a year it should be earning,” he added.

 

Somchai Techopas, who runs a Patong entertainment venue, said the 4am closing time would be a big boost for tourist towns because visitors would spend more and investors would be keener. 

 

Many tourists don’t venture out until 10pm, he said, so bribes have to be paid if venues want to stay open past 2am. He thinks the extra two hours would result in an income hike of at least 25 per cent and double revenues in Bang La from the current Bt50 million a month.

 

Tourism Council ex-president Ittirit warned on Facebook, though, that he didn’t want tourism accused of destroying culture, the environment or the quality of residents’ lives. 

 

“Tourism isn’t a magical cure-all medicine, so policies must be issued after all dimensions and possible impacts are carefully explored,” he wrote. 

“What per cent of tourists would benefit from this?” he asked Phiphat. “Did the research you based the proposal on cover all areas? Seventy per cent of visitors to Krabi’s Nang Bay travel with family and need to rest at night. 

 

“Most pubs and bars in tourist destinations are open-air, so it’s hard to control the noise, which affects hotels and other tourist accommodations. There would be crime, narcotics and prostitution issues. The conflicts of interest involving some law enforcers happen with bars opening until 2am, so if opening hours are extended to 4, it could worsen.”

 

Some residents of Chiang Mai are also opposing longer hours for bars, citing potential harm to club-goers’ health, increased road accidents and enticing young drinkers.

 

Disaranont Khunpol, 26, said people who stay out drinking until early morning have no time to do anything else and risk the negative effects of drunkenness, while nightspot staff businesses would also be working longer hours.

 

Natthakan Paengnual, 35, said the later closing time could lead to more accidents, lure youths to alcohol and other vices, and disturb neighbours.

Thanapisit Kulnanthakorn, who owns two pubs in the northern city, said he understood the opposing point of view, especially the concern over drunk driving, brawls and other crimes. 

 

“I would personally want the longer operating hours but, if it’s not allowed, that’s alright too,” he said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30375126

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-21

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[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Many tourists don’t venture out until 10pm, he said, so bribes have to be paid if venues want to stay open past 2am. He thinks the extra two hours would result in an income hike of at least 25 per cent and double revenues in Bang La from the current Bt50 million a month

Doesn't that mean the police's revenue stream is likely to dry up somewhat if the bribes are no longer required?

Or will the bars then be allowed to stay open a further two hours if they keep paying?

[ThomasThBKK]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Some residents of Chiang Mai are also opposing longer hours for bars, citing potential harm to club-goers’ health, increased road accidents and enticing young drinkers.

Rofl.

 

[Beggar]

"Most pubs and bars in tourist destinations are open-air, so it’s hard to control the noise, which affects hotels and other tourist accommodations. There would be crime, narcotics and prostitution issues. The conflicts of interest involving some law enforcers happen with bars opening until 2am, so if opening hours are extended to 4, it could worsen.”

 

A very wise man this Tourism Council ex-president Ittirit. But I am afraid that greed will win. 

[tomazbodner]

I'm completely in favour even for 24/7 opening hours, as long as 24/7 noise can be made in front of houses of those who vote for it. And earplugs are banned in Thailand.

[Oziex1]

Is this really a cure for low tourist number, I think not.

It is an abandonment of the old push for quality tourists, not that I believe late night partying is the choice of undesirables.

[grego49]

The golden goose flew away a long time ago,these bs ideas are never going to bring it back.

[the guest]

... and where exactly will they get the customers? Chinese and Russians avoid these places like the plague in favour of 7/11.

[legend49]

Who cares about their problem.

[jaiyen]

Most of the people who are still in a bar at 2 are already drunk and the few that stay till 4 will create problems.  Can't see this idea lasting long. Does any other country have such a thing, where bars are open till 4 ?  Doubt it as they have drunk driving laws that are taken notice of, not like in Thailand.

[baansgr]

The tourists that want 24/7 drinking flew the coup a long time ago for pastures new that are far cheaper and more welcoming and wont be returning anytime soon. As for extra revenue, the stragglers and die hards to Thailand only have x amount to spend so revenue benefits would be minimal if anything

[Emdog]

"... all that’s needed is for everyone to cooperate in ensuring security and cleanliness." All?

 Turn to gold? Maybe golden showers....

[kingstonkid]

Do instead of the brown envelopes to stay open until 4 they will have the envelopes to stay open until 6.

 

How the hell are they going to regulate where and what bars can stay open in Pattaya the whole F'ing city is s tourist trap.

If you go out at 10 and party til closing that is 4 hours surely you can drink your fill in that length of time.

This also means that those working at bars are going to be working from 5 to 4 which is not good for them.

 

Also are the bars going to be tourist only so if a Thai walks in he gets the boot.  i doubt it.

 

Sorry I do not see the upside.  I lived in a Ottawa when the bard in across the river were open until 3 and there was more trouble than needed.

 

 

[Cereal]

Will bar fines for company be extended till 4am as well?

[malibukid]

alcohol and cheap sex does not make quality tourist.  time to clean Dodge up.  

Edited August 22, 2019 by malibukid

[topt]

47 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

If you go out at 10 and party til closing that is 4 hours surely you can drink your fill in that length of time.

A lot of respondants seem to miss the point that it is not just about drinking to excess in the allotted time but also being able to enjoy the evening without necessarily being restricted to having to finish by 2am or 12.00 in some places.

 

As pointed out a lot of clubs in Pattaya stay open illegally beyond that now anyway.

 

 

[fxe1200]

1 hour ago, jaiyen said:

Most of the people who are still in a bar at 2 are already drunk and the few that stay till 4 will create problems.  Can't see this idea lasting long. Does any other country have such a thing, where bars are open till 4 ?  Doubt it as they have drunk driving laws that are taken notice of, not like in Thailand.

Yes, Germany, but it might be different from state to state. The official closing time is 2 a.m. But upon approval by the government and a monthly fee, the bar may stay open until 6 a.m. You will receive a receipt and the fee is tax deductible.

[Geoffggi]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

“Most pubs and bars in tourist destinations are open-air, so it’s hard to control the noise, which affects hotels and other tourist accommodations. There would be crime, narcotics and prostitution issues. The conflicts of interest involving some law enforcers happen with bars opening until 2am, so if opening hours are extended to 4, it could worsen.”

At least someone is thinking correctly, noise pollution is a big problem here in Thailand and is a problem for visitors that are unfortunate enough to reside close to either bar complexes or where there are occasional open air concerts which are generally way too loud. As correctly noted above, it will also bring an increase with crime and of particular concern is narcotics, which do lead to other crimes like robbery to finance peoples habits also conflicts between various nationalities are to be expected as Pattaya is a melting pot of races and not everyone see things the same way...!!! Therefore I must cast my vote with the 02:00hrs closing is late enough.

[outsider]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

"It shows that he knows what he’s doing. He probably sees how our country can become competitive in proposing 4am closings for just international tourist destinations...

 

Really? Tourists choose not to come to Thailand because clubs, pubs and bars close earlier than 4 am?

 

[LomSak27]

50 minutes ago, baansgr said:

The tourists that want 24/7 drinking flew the coup a long time ago for pastures new that are far cheaper and more welcoming and wont be returning anytime soon

They successfully ran off both the bar stool bangers and a good section of the euro tourists holiday set. Now they see a problem. But this is no quick fix deal. And as delayed gratification doesn’t work in this country, we have a problem.

[manchega]

the biggest issue will be lack of understanding of sound pollution

 

walk into any Thai shopping mall and you are assaulted by women usually pretending to be on TV and screaming into a loadspeaker

live anywhere near a monastry and you will know the misery of a Thai wedding as the father of the bride pays for a week of music at 500 DB to be blared from 6 am till 1am everyday - then you have the biannual ( at a minimum) monastry fund rasing fair where music and speaking will occur all the hours of day and night before you even get to music of bringing in new browless kiddy fiddlers

 

I pity anyone who lives within hearing distance of a bar, there will be no escape particularly on big holidays and every weekend

[Paul Henry]

All the arguments put up for the yes argument are as silly as the ones for no. Time does not dictate on drunkedness,prostitution its the intent of the person. If I want to wipe myself out I will in the time available.

If I want to get my leg over I will.This is a distraction from the fact quality tourist numbers are down for all the reasons we have seen on previous post and they won't get better. Hello Cambodia,Vietnam and Myanmar."GOOD BYE THAILAND"

[phantomfiddler]

Never fear, the Injuns are here, to help Thailand out of it,s financial woes. I saw 8 of them urinating in the middle of Soi 4 at 1am a couple of weeks ago, bringing India to Pattaya ????

Edited August 22, 2019 by phantomfiddler
spelling correction

[TKDfella]

One point I didn't see in the news this morning is that 4 a.m. is quite close to the time to those who rise early to open morning markets etc. I wonder if there might be some impact here too perhaps a chance of accidents? I don't live near any bars or pubs and I don't frequent these places either (TT) so I have no idea what happens there. What I did read in the BKP was that the minister said it would help the economy so I thought 'there it is again, all about money, not about people'.

[asiamaster]

Bring back the midnight curfew! ????

[Greenpeiper]

I remember in the UK the huge uproar when all day opening was introduced, all doom and gloom was predicted it would lead to the apocalypse, fighting and fornication in the streets!!!!
If anything alcohol related crime dropped.
And before you all start bleating about the situation in the UK now that is caused by other social and political reasons not alcohol.
I think it is a good idea, but the authorities need to step up the levels of punishment dished out to those involved in drunk driving or alcohol related crime.
Just my thoughts ???? ????

[BobBKK]

Chiang Mai is 12pm closing?  why the discrepancy?  

[e2x10]

Should improve the "Road Safety" issues.

[Chrisswe]

Happy days are here again, now the quality turists will return , !!!???? 

ITS ALLWAYS A QUESTION OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE !!!!!

[zzidenn]

1 hour ago, fxe1200 said:

Yes, Germany, but it might be different from state to state. The official closing time is 2 a.m. But upon approval by the government and a monthly fee, the bar may stay open until 6 a.m. You will receive a receipt and the fee is tax deductible.

Yes and it works well