A French national has filed a complaint in Chiang Mai after being physically assaulted over a service bill of 30,000 baht. The victim, identified by police, only as Kevin, a 35-year-old resident of Chon Buri, reported that the charge was for eight small beers and additional service fees at a local karaoke venue. The incident escalated into a confrontation, leaving visible marks on his neck.

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Police confirmed that an offence had occurred after reviewing the evidence of pushing and pulling during the dispute. The venue operators admitted responsibility, refunding at the police station, the full 30,000 baht and providing an extra 2,500 baht to cover medical expenses. Staff reportedly grabbed the tourist by the collar, during the confrontation, causing the injuries.

Investigations revealed the venue was operating without a permit and selling alcohol beyond the legally permitted hours. While the establishment claims the prices were explained beforehand, authorities are pursuing further charges for assault and licensing violations. Senior officers highlighted that overcharging tourists remains a persistent concern.

Authorities are petitioning district officials to impose a five-year closure on the venue to prevent further incidents. Firm action is being emphasised to ensure safety in the region. Police continue to investigate and any legal proceedings will follow once district officials review the petition.

Picture courtesy of Chiang Mai News

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Adapted by ASEAN Now ChiangMainews 25 Mar 2026

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4 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Authorities are petitioning district officials to impose a five-year closure on the venue to prevent further incidents

Since it was operating without a permit, is that not redundant?

There, thats the official line and they're sticking to it !!.. the issue must have reached social media...

Its good to see the police acting - well, 'acting'... the pantomime is in full swing.

They've fed the media the lines that need to be heard, the 'go away money' has been paid.

The place will be ripping off more people tonight.

Another illegal establishment.. selling alcohol outside the legal hours. And how is it possible that 8 beers cost 30k?? That is almost 4k a beer. I don't believe that the price was announced as it is far too much and people don't pay for it.. Maybe there are other customers that can file a complaint too for scamming. But as usual the tourist will complain and a sorry and a wai and it will be finished...

30k baht for 6 bottles of beer - are they having a laugh, were they 10lt bottles

1st of April is approaching - maybe a dry run

It's for 8 beers and "additional services ' .

Maybe he had to go to the bathroom ?

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

And how is it possible that 8 beers cost 30k?? That is almost 4k a beer. I don't believe that the price was announced as it is far too much...

And how is it possible that you are unable to read the OP?...

"the charge was for eight small beers and additional service fees"

58 minutes ago, smedly said:

30k baht for 6 bottles of beer - are they having a laugh, were they 10lt bottles

Are you having a laugh?...

"...the charge was for eight small beers

and additional service fees..."

Some years back a friend of mine went to a nightclub and ordered a beer. He noticed some Japanese men there giving the girls what he called 'ridiculous tips', like ฿1000 for just bringing them a drink. The girl who served him asked, in excellent English, "Are you an English teacher?" When he said yes, she told him, "You should go, you can't afford anything here."

It turned out to be very good advice!

This one was recently in the news. They regularly change the name of the venue.

'For over 10 years, this same location has notoriously assaulted, robbed, and scammed tourists & thais alike in Chiang Mai. There are even rumors of murders occurring here. Police are intimately familiar with it, and regularly “negotiate deals” with scammed victims while ensuring the scam machine continues to operate.

My question is what would it theoretically take to get this sort of criminal operation shut down for good? Is it simply out of the question due to police corruption?

The bars current name is “67 bar”, with many recent reports of tourists being extorted & assaulted for 50,000+ baht. This is not the only scam clip joint of its type in chiang mai, but it seems to be the most brazen and prominent. The shop is next to an unrelated, innocent eatery with address.'

35/4 Sridonchai Rd, Tambon Chang Khlan, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai

30,000 baht divided by 8 beers = Only 3750 baht a beer....Not bad.....It must have been happy hour...

Thailand really is the land of smiles, especially once you complain loudly enough to get your bill ‘recalculated’.

Stick your neck out and voilà, instant discount. Karaoke: 30,000 baht. Courage to argue: priceless.

6 minutes ago, roo860 said:

This one was recently in the news. They regularly change the name of the venue.

'For over 10 years, this same location has notoriously assaulted, robbed, and scammed tourists & thais alike in Chiang Mai. There are even rumors of murders occurring here. Police are intimately familiar with it, and regularly “negotiate deals” with scammed victims while ensuring the scam machine continues to operate.

My question is what would it theoretically take to get this sort of criminal operation shut down for good? Is it simply out of the question due to police corruption?

The bars current name is “67 bar”, with many recent reports of tourists being extorted & assaulted for 50,000+ baht. This is not the only scam clip joint of its type in chiang mai, but it seems to be the most brazen and prominent. The shop is next to an unrelated, innocent eatery with address.'

35/4 Sridonchai Rd, Tambon Chang Khlan, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai

Exactly - all part of the pantomime and theatre - these places do not exist without 'police assistance' - meaning, ownership / partnership...

7 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

30,000 baht divided by 8 beers = Only 3750 baht a beer....Not bad.....It must have been happy hour...

Careful - LL will start quoting the article at you...

Well that opened a can worms. Didn't it

The Frenchman could stand to lose a few pounds.

I was talking to a lady yesterday he said she’s an accountant for a casino in Chiang Mai I said I thought gambling dens were illegal here so yeah they are but he pays off all the big cops so he’s been in business a long time here in Chiang Mai TIT

Just throw ‘Chiang Mai karaoke scams’ into google, the results will keep you busy for a while.

Don’t enter a karaoke bar in Chiang Mai is no different from don’t go upstairs in Patpong in its hey day.

Would have thought operating with out a valid permit should be enough to close this place down from scamming others in the future

So 35-year old Kevin is a "tourist" that lives in Chonburi ?????

Ah, the old CM Chang Khlan Karaoke overpricing and tourist beatdown scam. Haven't heard about one of those for awhile. Wander too far outside of the tourist area and into the Thai Karaoke district - not a Thai? Problems! So they still happen.

13 minutes ago, mushroomdave said:

So 35-year old Kevin is a "tourist" that lives in Chonburi ?????

He lives in Chonburi, but on holiday in Chiang Mai so a tourist. Hiw do you think TAT get such high numbers of tourists every time?

Ahh, the old

30,000 Baht Karaoke Bill

trick.

Those KTV bars are a complete waste of time....unless you are from Japan or Korea or Taiwan.

The number 8 reminds me of a story from many years ago at Nana Plaza in Bangkok. My wife was keen to visit a bar with a ladyboy show. No sooner said than done.

When the show finished, eight of them posed in front of our table and said, "Take a photo of us!" Well, why not? Unfortunately, we hadn't given the price a second thought. My wife intended to give one of them a 100 Baht tip. Far from it—it turned out to be 500 Baht per person. Protesting was useless. Lesson learnt. LOL.

2 hours ago, roo860 said:

This one was recently in the news. They regularly change the name of the venue.

'For over 10 years, this same location has notoriously assaulted, robbed, and scammed tourists & thais alike in Chiang Mai. There are even rumors of murders occurring here. Police are intimately familiar with it, and regularly “negotiate deals” with scammed victims while ensuring the scam machine continues to operate.

My question is what would it theoretically take to get this sort of criminal operation shut down for good? Is it simply out of the question due to police corruption?

The bars current name is “67 bar”, with many recent reports of tourists being extorted & assaulted for 50,000+ baht. This is not the only scam clip joint of its type in chiang mai, but it seems to be the most brazen and prominent. The shop is next to an unrelated, innocent eatery with address.'

35/4 Sridonchai Rd, Tambon Chang Khlan, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai

Someone's been busy.

Dude must have taken one of the soi off of Loi Kroh and went exploring. I lived in that area between Loi Kroh and Thapae living in the Thai community for the first 6 or 7 years that I lived here. About the only time I went to Sridonchai was on evening walks around the moat, and I stop right about here to eat at a pop-up Khao Tum Plaa street food venor that would set up tables and chairs on this corner at around 6pm. Great food. But in all that time I never even thought about having a beer anywhere along that road. Why? Loi Kroh was much more fun and I knew bar owners and working girls up and down that road. I stayed away from alcohol establishments south of Loi Kroh because that area of Chang Klan is "thai guy" Karaoke club territory. The area, especially ON Chang Klan is notorious for over-pricing unsuspecting tourists and then having a group beatdown when they refuse to pay the overpriced bill. Well French guy, live and learn. Head one street North and get back into Farang Fun district on Loi Kroh. Then all you have to worry about are bar girls wanting "lady drinks."

20 minutes ago, connda said:

Someone's been busy.

Dude must have taken one of the soi off of Loi Kroh and went exploring. I lived in that area between Loi Kroh and Thapae living in the Thai community for the first 6 or 7 years that I lived here. About the only time I went to Sridonchai was on evening walks around the moat, and I stop right about here to eat at a pop-up Khao Tum Plaa street food venor that would set up tables and chairs on this corner at around 6pm. Great food. But in all that time I never even thought about having a beer anywhere along that road. Why? Loi Kroh was much more fun and I knew bar owners and working girls up and down that road. I stayed away from alcohol establishments south of Loi Kroh because that area of Chang Klan is "thai guy" Karaoke club territory. The area, especially ON Chang Klan is notorious for over-pricing unsuspecting tourists and then having a group beatdown when they refuse to pay the overpriced bill. Well French guy, live and learn. Head one street North and get back into Farang Fun district on Loi Kroh. Then all you have to worry about are bar girls wanting "lady drinks."

Here's another one with the same reputation, not far from 67 karaoke. It's called Black Club.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jv8J7t4Bbpot1T9t7

I’ve long advocated for civil forfeiture.. For example, IF a property or asset is being used REPEATEDLY for illegal acts - venues operating without proper licenses, fire exit violations- things of that nature, then to me it’s fair game for the “state” to seize the property or assets used in the ongoing and repeated criminal acts.

Yes, sometimes the actual owner may not be aware that their asset is being used illegally - but in the end, I DO think asset owners have some measure of accountability for how their assets are used (and those assets also earn revenue for the owners) so i don’t think it’s appropriate for owner to have a “free-pass” per se, just because they may not have been the actual operator.

in turn, now the owner can turn around and use civil courts to go after the operators.

3 hours ago, redwood1 said:

30,000 baht divided by 8 beers = Only 3750 baht a beer....Not bad.....It must have been happy hour...

Your forgetting the additional "service fees" that he had to pay which would make the beers an even bigger bargain.

This BS never stops where often they first rip you off and then attack you when you refuse to pay and instead of the perpetrators getting arrested and given serious jail time they get a slap on the wrist. And they call this the Land of Smiles.