Bangkok nightlife given green light to re-open as more restrictions eased nationwide

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Bangkok nightlife given green light to re-open as more restrictions eased nationwide

 

 

As expected, the Thai government has given the green light for Bangkok’s nightlife to re-open with some  degree of normality.

 

At a meeting on  Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that bars, pubs and restaurants can now open until 11pm and serve alcohol. Live music is also permitted but dancing is not allowed.

 

The move comes as the Thai capital and surrounding areas were among a number of provinces to be downgraded from a ‘High Controlled Area (red) to Controlled Area (orange).

 

Other provinces downgraded to the Controlled Area include Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Tak, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Nakhon Pathom.

 

Only Samut Sakhon remains under the highest level of restrictions, with bars and pubs there ordered to remain closed.

 

 

 

When the new measures will go into effect will depend on the provincial governor of each  province, with announcements due imminently. 

 

At the time of posting, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority is yet to make an announcement on when the re-opening would come into effect, although it is expected bars and pubs  will  be able to re-open as  early as  Tuesday (23 Feb). 

 

We’ll update this post following any announcement. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-02-22

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

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[Oldie]

I think the best will be everyone decides for himself if he wants to risk to go to entertainment venues. I don't go and I even avoid to meet people that are hanging around there every night. But I am a careful person that can't even remember anymore when I had a disease caused by a virus or bacteria. But for sure I am not immortal too. 

[colinneil]

Whoopee Bangkok nightlife back, time to get my glad rags on, hop over there for some action.

[petermik]

7 hours ago, colinneil said:

Whoopee Bangkok nightlife back, time to get my glad rags on, hop over there for some action.

At your age col hopping is out...try a nice leisurely stroll instead....CU in Thermae and we`ll pick up some top totty.....

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

open until 11pm

I wonder how many bars will open under these conditions.

For some that would mean normal business between 7 or 8 until 11.

3 or 4 hours won't be enough to make some money.

[snoop1130]

CCSA approves emergency decree extension and lifting of restrictions

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government’s Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved the extension of the emergency decree for another month, and resolved to lift a number of restrictions, including allowing people to drink alcoholic beverages in restaurants until 11 p.m.

 

The Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, said after chairing the CCSA meeting today that the center decided to extend the enforcement of the emergency decree until March 31 this year.

 

The meeting also approved the lifting of restrictions, aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, and a proposal to downgrade the degree of COVID-19 infection in various areas. Currently, Samut Sakhon is the only province with its status as a red zone, where maximum control is in place.

 

The CCSA meeting gave the green light to permit vendors to sell alcoholic beverages and allow customers to drink inside their premises until 11 p.m. of each day.

 

However, restrictions on entertainment venues will remain in place to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

 

The meeting acknowledged the hosting of a professional jet ski competition, after the country successfully hosted an international badminton tournament. There will be more activities to promote domestic tourism, while maintaining public health measures.

 

The Prime Minister insisted that the first COVID-19 vaccine doses will arrive in Thailand this Wednesday (Feb 24). The government will take two to three days to consider the vaccine distribution plan. Once it is finalized, the doses will be administered to the public immediately.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-02-22

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Thaiophil]

At last, the pointless and ruinous curb of the nighttime economy is partly lifted.

 

Frankly, why bars have to close at 2300 in Bkk but midnight in Pattaya, is anyone’s guess. 
 

But better than nothing. Will avail while here in Pattaya and again on return to Bkk later in the week????????

 

 

[2009]

Can confirm.

 

I was over at Patpong today and got the news at 5pm straight from the horse's mouth.

 

Many bars had their doors open and they were sweeping floors n getting ready for tomorrow.

 

Saw an old white geezer taking a pictures of The Old Other Office with its doors open and lights on. He looked pleased. I presume he was a regular.

Edited February 22, 2021 by 2009

[HaoleBoy]

Will there be full busses of ladies from their villages coming back to BKK tonight / tomorrow?

[2009]

3 minutes ago, HaoleBoy said:

Will there be full busses of ladies from their villages coming back to BKK tonight / tomorrow?

 

Does yer mammy have asbestos fingers?

[smedly]

8 hours ago, Thaiophil said:

Frankly, why bars have to close at 2300 in Bkk but midnight in Pattaya, is anyone’s guess. 

please forgive me if I missed something in the OP, pattaya is still 11pm, I just checked my watch after getting in 40mins ago and can confirm 

[Curt1591]

Wasn't the last domestic "Super Spreader" case a drunken party? 

[Crusader]

At last...draft beer...

[mtls2005]

14 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

At the time of posting, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority is yet to make an announcement on when the re-opening would come into effect, although it is expected bars and pubs  will  be able to re-open as  early as  Tuesday (23 Feb). 

 

Weird they make a big splsh but don't have a "when".

 

Hoenstly, it can't be any earlier than Tuesday, unless it was Monday.

 

How hard is it to pick a date and stick with it?

 

 

[Thaiophil]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

please forgive me if I missed something in the OP, pattaya is still 11pm, I just checked my watch after getting in 40mins ago and can confirm 

The new hours should be starting today, Tues 23 according to an Aussie bar owner I chatted to

[riverhigh]

14 hours ago, Oldie said:

I think the best will be everyone decides for himself if he wants to risk to go to entertainment venues. I don't go and I even avoid to meet people that are hanging around there every night. But I am a careful person that can't even remember anymore when I had a disease caused by a virus or bacteria. But for sure I am not immortal too. 

Let me complete your senetence: "I think the best will be everyone decides for himself if he wants to risk to go to entertainment venues, catch the virus and then decide whether to pass the virus on to friends and family."  I was at an entertainment venue last night, with a friend, at the back of club far away from the madening crowd. Booze was being served and it was business as usual ...... 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

13 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

For some that would mean normal business between 7 or 8 until 11.

3 or 4 hours won't be enough to make some money.

Many of us teachers will be there at 4-5 pm. It’s a tough gig you know. ????‍????????????

[Oldie]

37 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

Let me complete your senetence: "I think the best will be everyone decides for himself if he wants to risk to go to entertainment venues, catch the virus and then decide whether to pass the virus on to friends and family."  I was at an entertainment venue last night, with a friend, at the back of club far away from the madening crowd. Booze was being served and it was business as usual ...... 

I see what is going on here in Central Pattaya at the open air bars. Corona obviously doesn't exist for most them. I cannot talk about the clubs that operate behind closed doors because I don't see what is happening inside. 

 

The situation that I see is that at least half of the bars are closed. From the bars that are open at least 90 percent have no customers. Perhaps a handful of bars have customers - especially a bar in Soi Buakhao with cheep booze is extremely crowded every night. But what I also see is that there are no precautions. Customers and staff are without mask and social distancing. As you say "business as usual". But I also have the feeling that many people avoid to go to such places - almost all my friends except two. And these two I avoid. 

 

Now they get an additional hour here in Pattaya. I doubt that they will get much more business. But they get the message that Covid is even a much smaller problem than originally anticipated. And so they even have to care less - what isn't possible for many because they don't care now already. 

 

Edited February 23, 2021 by Oldie

[OneMoreFarang]

14 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Many of us teachers will be there at 4-5 pm. It’s a tough gig you know. ????‍????????????

And do you expect that the bars make any money with your happy hour drinks?

[skorp13]

14 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I wonder how many bars will open under these conditions.

For some that would mean normal business between 7 or 8 until 11.

3 or 4 hours won't be enough to make some money.

 

Some are in pattaya. It is a chance for some workers get back to making some money and for some business owners to not shutter forever. it's a step, don't be so negative

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

At a meeting on  Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that bars, pubs and restaurants can now open until 11pm and serve alcohol. Live music is also permitted but dancing is not allowed

Now wait for the ... "we can't survive with 11pm closing cries"

[brewsterbudgen]

3 hours ago, Curt1591 said:

Wasn't the last domestic "Super Spreader" case a drunken party? 

No.  It was supposedly someone in the fish markets at Samut Sakhon.

[brewsterbudgen]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

Now wait for the ... "we can't survive with 11pm closing cries"

And not without justification! Quite why the government seems intent on putting businesses out of business is anyone's guess!

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, Oldie said:

I think the best will be everyone decides for himself if he wants to risk to go to entertainment venues. I don't go and I even avoid to meet people that are hanging around there every night. But I am a careful person that can't even remember anymore when I had a disease caused by a virus or bacteria. But for sure I am not immortal too. 

That doesn't work out well in practice...

You play safe and stay away from entertainment venues so as not to bump into infected people, but then you meet someone who doesn't give a rats at the market next day... 

[OneMoreFarang]

15 minutes ago, skorp13 said:

Some are in pattaya. It is a chance for some workers get back to making some money and for some business owners to not shutter forever. it's a step, don't be so negative

Unfortunately business is more complicated than opening a little and making a little money. Some bar owners made deals with landlords that as long as the bar is closed they have to pay a substantially lower rent. If they open again they have to pay rent again. And some cost don't work half way. If you have to keep the beer cold the fridges have to run 24/7, not just for a couple of hours a day. The bar has to be cleaned daily, and and and. Lots of cost which don't change much if a bar is open for 6 hours or for 12 hours.

I have a friend who is a bar owner. He prefers to keep his bar closed. Not because he doesn't like to make money. He just doesn't like to work and lose even more money.

[OneMoreFarang]

10 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Now wait for the ... "we can't survive with 11pm closing cries"

It's the truth.

[hotchilli]

10 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

And not without justification! Quite why the government seems intent on putting businesses out of business is anyone's guess!

I can understand clubs wanting to remain open past 11pm... but not all street bars.

[the green light]

13 hours ago, HaoleBoy said:

Will there be full busses of ladies from their villages coming back to BKK tonight / tomorrow?

keep wishing. Only the grandmas and the ugly one will board the busses.

i hope you like old flesh

[shackleton]

Common sense prevails with Bangkok going to Orange

No more questions need to  be asked  about inter provincial travel 

With in Kingdom plus look forward to a cold beer when in a restaurant there

[phantomfiddler]

Now all they have to do is allow some customers into the country !  If you are gonna throw someone a life jacket, at least throw one that floats ????