Laying Down The Law

[hhiser]

they (government) really know their priority overhere

I propose : stop prostitution , abuse of children, abuse of alcohol , stop selling sigarets

really I do

if Thailand want to get genuine tourists that spend money and not hookers, pimps and drug dealers

What are you daft?

Mormons do not spend a lot of money, and the prohibition on child abuse probably disqualifies them too.

And what about all the Thai people where would they go?

BTW

What happens if your plan works and Thailand attracts only "genuine" tourist, i.e. non-smokers, non-drinkers, non-abusers, and non-sexual. The first thing they will notice is that when they go to any attraction, i.e. national parks, zoos, palaces, temples, etc, they are required to pay more than the Thais. Do you not think that this would put off any genuine tourist from re-visiting Thailand, and probably cause them to write numerous blogs about it too, thus warning any potential "genuine" tourist. Then what will you do? Of course I have not mentioned any other type of scam which the non-"genuine" tourist are being fleeced with.

Rhetorical question, you should be able to provide the correct answer for yourself!

[sunnymarky]

The over use of Playing Computer games by children of school age is serious in Thailand and damages their education . As a teacher here , playing Computer Games always comes top of students leisure time activity.

Why ? What should they be doing ? Reading educational books for the 6 hours instead ? Would you rather they go out on the streets and get into mischief ? Just what exactly should they be doing with their leisure time ? This law may be ridiculous in its unenforceability never mind the debate about the states/parents role in society but it at least it recognises thats what kids do !!! Why dont you recognise the skills that online gaming do develop ? In a computer age whats so wrong with developing enhanced hand/eye coordination, fast reactions etc etc. Yes 6 hours a day is excessive for any child to be doing any one thing but do tell, just what would you have them do with their leisure time ? Oh - I know, you'd introduce your own set of ideal laws on them instead.

Our individual loss of freedom is the worlds greatest unfolding disaster of the 21st century.

So 3-6 hours a day playing "Disco Dance" or a "Shoot em up" computer game is good because it helps their "hand/eye coordination". The sort of parental guidance that will do more harm than "individual loss of freedom in the 21st century" . I can think of greater "unfolding disasters" than any potential loss of freedom

Edited July 30, 2009 by sunnymarky

[Thanh-BKK]

Why ? What should they be doing ? Reading educational books for the 6 hours instead ? Would you rather they go out on the streets and get into mischief ? Just what exactly should they be doing with their leisure time ? This law may be ridiculous in its unenforceability never mind the debate about the states/parents role in society but it at least it recognises thats what kids do !!! Why dont you recognise the skills that online gaming do develop ? In a computer age whats so wrong with developing enhanced hand/eye coordination, fast reactions etc etc. Yes 6 hours a day is excessive for any child to be doing any one thing but do tell, just what would you have them do with their leisure time ? Oh - I know, you'd introduce your own set of ideal laws on them instead.

Our individual loss of freedom is the worlds greatest unfolding disaster of the 21st century.

Oh my goodness.

What has this world become? I am not THAT old (34 to be precise) but when i was a kid i had no computer or game console.... there was television but even back then i felt bored by it. What did kids in my age do? Nope, not "doing mischief".... we took out the ball (or any object that could be used as such) and played football, or something at least vaguely resembling football. In later stages we even played tennis. Or ping-pong. Even later i took up skateboarding and roller-blading. All to be done more or less legally in public areas without harming anyone, and without using electricity.

And if it was raining? We did READ. Public libraries are a great thing to have. For Christmas or birthday we wished for and got BOOKS. Real books i mean, not comics. To this day i love reading a good book, much more so than watching a movie.

But todays kids (not only in Thailand, but pretty much everywhere) don't know such life. Sports? Nah. Television and computer games is all they know. From my own experience right here in Bangkok i can say that renting a court and playing tennis or badminton all afternoon is CHEAPER than spending that same afternoon in a sticky internet cafe playing shoot-em-up. As you pay per court, not per person - and sharing a court with 20 friends cost the same and everyone can have some good and healthy fun, you don't need to be a pro to enjoy tennis or badminton.

No wonder that at the school where my boyfriend's nephew goes to about 90% of the kids (boys at least) are fat. As soon as school is out they sit in the internet shops and kill each other in the virtual world.

What would i do if i had kids? Try to get them interested in sports, ANY kind of sports. And explain them that their millionaire idols David Beckham and the like also didn't spend their childhood in internet cafes but on a football pitch.

Best regards.....

Thanh

[Thai at Heart]

The over use of Playing Computer games by children of school age is serious in Thailand and damages their education . As a teacher here , playing Computer Games always comes top of students leisure time activity.

Why ? What should they be doing ? Reading educational books for the 6 hours instead ? Would you rather they go out on the streets and get into mischief ? Just what exactly should they be doing with their leisure time ? This law may be ridiculous in its unenforceability never mind the debate about the states/parents role in society but it at least it recognises thats what kids do !!! Why dont you recognise the skills that online gaming do develop ? In a computer age whats so wrong with developing enhanced hand/eye coordination, fast reactions etc etc. Yes 6 hours a day is excessive for any child to be doing any one thing but do tell, just what would you have them do with their leisure time ? Oh - I know, you'd introduce your own set of ideal laws on them instead.

Our individual loss of freedom is the worlds greatest unfolding disaster of the 21st century.

So 3-6 hours a day playing "Disco Dance" or a "Shoot em up" computer game is good because it helps their "hand/eye coordination". The sort of parental guidance that will do more harm than "individual loss of freedom in the 21st century" . I can think of greater "unfolding disasters" than any potential loss of freedom

I don't think that intrinsically, there is anything wrong with kids playing video games that are aimed at the right age for the appropriate amount of time. 30 mins to an hour at home with the correct types of game for their age is ok.

But just as people worked out that watching TV for 10 hours a day isn't a good thing, sitting glued for hours on end to a video game isn't good either.

I do wonder if it has dawned on the politicians that having every national TV channel running 1 and a half hour to 3 hours of episodes of soap operas is part of the problem?

I can't imagine how many husbands and kids want to get out of the house for a beer or to play video games because the only real options on nearly all channels are repetitive stories of poor heroines trying falling for the rich guy. A lot of people would say the long running soap operas in the UK or the US are/were trash but at least the acting was half decent and the story lines varied. I mean "Who did shoot JR?, and where did "Dirty Den go?".

If they want a bit of social engineering, making TV programs that the entire family can enjoy sitting down to watch together would go some way to at least encouraging the whole family to sit together in an evening. It may not be perfect since they will be watching TV but it is better than dad disappearing off to get pissed and the kids to escape to the internet shop.

TV is unfortunately for fortunately part of daily life, but I distinctly remember sitting down with my parents to watch TV together as a kid and try to do the same with my kids today. It might not stimulate conversation that much, but it is a dam_n side better than everyone going their separate ways for entertainment.

Edited July 30, 2009 by Thai at Heart

[Kopauvin]

I certainly hope that cinemas will enforce the film ratings. I recall watching the last Rambo film with a Thai family sitting behind me with a young child (4 or 5 years old) clearly very distraught (crying screaming etc) during some scenes that no child of that age should see.

Probably just wanted an ice cream

The karaoke thing is a huge double standard, why crack down on that and turn a blind eye to massage parlours and go go bars?

[hansnl]

Amazing Thailand! Rather than Little China or China Lite I think the new advertising campaign should be tagged:

Thailand! Burma with Electricity

Before anyone goes off the rails, these new saber rattlings from today's flavor of the day government probably will go the way of the smoking law, prostitution laws and standards for English teachers. This government has done absolutely nothing positive over the past six months except handing out Bt2,000 checks to the poor. They got the idea from the last truly elected deposed prime minister. You got to love this place.

The last truly elected and then deposed and convicted prime minister was not elected into office.

His party did not have 51% of the votes, so no way he was elected into this function.

Although his party was the biggest one, they could not and did not dare to run it alone as a minority government.

A coalition of parties had to be formed and he became prime minister.

The current government did the same thing, form a coalition and the leader of the biggest party in the coalition became prime minister.

I know, I know, for US and UK people this convention is difficult to understand.

But try to remember that nearly nowhere in the world a prime minister is chosen into office.

Presidents can be chosen into office, or are declared president by the government or himself.

And, any way you look at things, considering the economic problems in the world, the current prime minister and his government are doing rather well.

I wonder of Mr T would have done better.

Don't think so.

Edited July 30, 2009 by hansnl

[TAWP]

What has this world become? I am not THAT old (34 to be precise) but when i was a kid i had no computer or game console....

I'm of your generation and we had both computers and game consoles when I was a kid - and still we played a lot of football, basketball, tennis, badminton, role-playing games, AND had the time to do way too much mischief...

Blame the parents, not the toys.

[gonzobrains]

absolutely hilarious.

Oddly enough several generations of Thai prostitutes catering the the non-thai market,

inadvertently learned MUCH more about the world than intended, and passed that on to their children.

And unintended consequence being an education in the ways of others in the world outside of Thailand,

with which to compare their own lot. And their lot in certain pertinent ways came up wanting.

[Jeffro008]

Laying down the law

New regulations on karaoke, Internet gaming, film ratings set to take effect

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved new regulations that prohibit karaoke parlours from providing drinking or singing partners to customers, with their business licences being revoked if they do.

Deputy government spokes-man Phumin Leetheeraprasert said the Cabinet also assigned the Office of the Council of State to adjust some of the wording before the regulations are implemented.

The new rules, which also cover Internet cafes, allow children to play computer games for more than three hours and up to six hours a day, says Culture Minister Teera Salakpetch.

Those under 15 will be allowed to use the service from 2pm to 8pm from Monday to Friday and from 10am to 8pm during holidays and school breaks, while those aged 15 to 18 can play games until 10pm, Teera says.

The Cabinet also agreed that an IT system to keep kids under 18 from playing computer games for more than three hours a day should be ready before a ministerial regulation amendment is proposed later, he added.

Seven movie categories

Other regulations approved concern film ratings. The minister said there were seven categories: educational films people are encouraged to see; films suitable for the general audience; films suitable for those over 13; films suitable for those over 15; films suitable for those over 18; films restricted for persons under 20, and films banned from being screened in the Kingdom.

Teera also said that the ministry has finished making the six rating symbols and would submit them to the National Committee on Film and Video in mid-August before they are implemented.

The symbols are: "Sor" (from the Thai word song serm that means "promoted") for educational films people are encouraged to see; "Thor" (from thua pai meaning "general") for films suitable for the general audience; "Nor 13+" (Nor is from naenam meaning "advisory") for films suitable for those over 13; "Nor 15+"; "Nor 18+", and "Chor 20+" (Chor is from chapor that means "specific") for films restricted for persons under 20.

The two regulations should take effect in mid-August.

-- The Nation 2009 07 29

Lets just all get together and sing a song for Thailand "We are the world" " We are the People" "We lay down the law"or something along those lines. Make the record and proceedings from sales goes to! what for it! The government

[G54]

The film regulations have to be a good idea if they are implemented.

I am concerned about how many people will be joining the ranks of the unemployed when all these 'ladies' are stopped from working at the Karaoke bars, if this is also implemented.

As for internet cafes, here if they are open on a morning and often during school hours they are regularly raided and fines handed out if schoolchildren are found to be on the premises.

As for the killjoys who want to stop the kids playing 'shoot em ups' and the like, you really do need to get a life and let others enjoy theirs. After all, what harm do they do? It is not as if it is real life and kids, like the rest of us are allowed some fun in life.

Do you think some kid is going to go out, buy a gun and try to play these games for real?? Are they going to go out and purchase a spaceship and venture into the unknown and start killing aliens??

[punkonater]

This will probably put a few people out of work.

The Cabinet has approved new regulations that prohibit karaoke parlours from providing drinking or singing partners to customers, with their business licences being revoked if they do.

Another reason the tourism here is failing so fast. Most people who sing karaoke want to have a few drinks to loosen up anyways. What a terrible idea.

[Sojourner]

It seems like there's a news story almost daily with regard to law tightening. What's the spin? What message are they really trying to get across. Is it the governments tactic to make amends for the chaos over the last couple of years?

Regards Bojo

Smoke and mirrors Bojo that all, smoke and mirrors. "Look at us world and see how squeaky clean we are".

[animatic]

What has this world become? I am not THAT old (34 to be precise) but when i was a kid i had no computer or game console....

I'm of your generation and we had both computers and game consoles when I was a kid - and still we played a lot of football, basketball, tennis, badminton, role-playing games, AND had the time to do way too much mischief...

Blame the parents, not the toys.

I got 20 years on the two of you, but was in the computer age anyway.

Certainly TV was completely integrated into society, and also HiFi.

But we still played all sorts ofd sports.

Water and snow skiing, tennis ping-pong capture the flag with huge teams,

Sailing /racing, mountain climbing, target shooting, bike riding go-karts etc.

We even had a summer of play Cricket with 3 teams in USA no less.

Sure we had to get kicked away from some of the Golden Age TV re-runs,

but never anything like this 5 hour computer gaming addiction so many children

suffer from world wide these days. And especially it seems in Thailand.

[PhuketRam]

"The karaoke thing is a huge double standard, why crack down on that and turn a blind eye to massage parlours and go go bars?"

I believe it is only a matter of time.

Without saying whether I agree with it or not, I do not expect to see the sex scene as-we-know-it today to look anything like this in Thailand in five years from now. There is a groundswell of resentment to it among common Thai people, especially women, and a growing movement among the elite towards cleaning up Thailand's image. Like it or not, cracking down on perceived and actual immorality (certainly in public) is a vote winner.

I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment. I think the Thai populous in general is quite weary of their country's reputation as the world's whorehouse. The middle class is growing and has more opportunity for foreign travel and more access to international news and opinion. Ask most middle class Thais and I venture that you will find the vast majority are completely in favor of any measures that will reduce "visible" prostitution and the perception of immorality.

For those who think "TIT" and it will never happen here, well, just look at other Asian cities. Thirty years ago, Taipei, Hong Kong, Seoul, & Singapore all had a flourishing, "open" sex trade. As the general population in these places became more affluent and more aware of global consensus, the cheaper, visible sex-for-hire establishments (catering to both locals and foreigners) all disappeared. Of course, prostitution still exists and, in some cases, thrives in these cities, but not in the highly accessible, open, and inexpensive manner it previously had.

And, whether you realize it or not, the same thing is already happening in Thailand. Less than ten years ago most Thai cities (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udon, Ubon, P'loke, etc., etc.) all had large, well-known cheap brothel districts. These areas have all been closed down or have been drastically reduced in size and forced to go "underground". Again, it doesn't mean that sex for sale has been eliminated, just that it's not as open and visible as it was in the past.

Like it or not, this trend will continue and will extend to foreign-patronized go-gos and massage parlors. If you think it won't happen becasue of the loss of revenue, then you've underestimated the cleverness and ingenuity of the Thais. They'll continue to make money off horny foreigners via escort services, rip-off "coyote" bars, and all the other schemes used to separate sex-starved old men from their money in other countries. And prostitution will always be available to those willing to pay a high enough price or who know where to look. But the days of user-friendly, out in the open, inexpensive sex establishments in Thailand are numbered.

I'm not saying this because I think it's right or wrong. Personally, I'm kind of ambivilent. I'd like to live in a moral society but would also like to have an endless supply of nubile sex partners available for nominal fee. It's just the way things go...

go to wanchai or mongkok in hongkong. go to khaosiong on the other side of taipei or downtown . go to downtown seoul on the slaezy side. go to downtown tokyo around ginza,shinjuku, etc.etc. tell me no cheap imported sex slaves can be found. even in clean and green singapore, geylang, joo chiat and ang teng and neighborhood residence areas are teeming with prostitutes if not sex slaves of all nationalities - be it chinese, indian, nepalese, indonesians, thais,vietnamese, russians, some europeans, blah, blah, blah, blah. please, please , please, ambivalent or not, your search for that endless supply of nubile sex partners for nominal fees need not stop in thailand and your days are not numbered as far this search of yours is concerned...so long as you are prepared to travel further and research more thoroughly. check the BANGKOK POST a couple of months ago when one reporter was in singapore covering a sexual slavery scandal and the cheap "imports" and locales where this cheap sex exist - before you put thailand at the bottom of your totem pole of cheap sex.

By all means, go to Wanchai, Mongkok, Tsim Sha Tsui in HK; Itawan in Seoul; Khaosiang in Taipei; Ginza, Roppongi, and Shinjuku in Tokyo; and all the neighborhoods of "flats" in Singapore; they prove my point exactly. None of them have anything close to the "in your face" inexpensive establishments that still flourish in Bangkok. Please note that in my original post I said "Of course, prostitution still exists and, in some cases, thrives in these cities, but not in the highly accessible, open, and inexpensive manner it previously had."

None of those areas or cities are remotely like they were 20 or 30 years ago. None of those areas still have large "foreign-friendly" clusters of huge go-go bars advertising "bar fines" of about (US) $12, where the girls provide service for an average of $50. (don't tell me Wan Chai - rip off places modeled after US and European go-go bars), none of the places have massive massage parlors located on major roads with dozens of girls sitting behind glass, openly offered to anybody who walks in for an average of $40. But all of these cities USED to have exactly this type of scene, as Bangkok does now. Sure, there's all sorts of sex for sale in these places "underground", if you know where to look. Again, as I said in my original post "And prostitution will always be available to those willing to pay a high enough price or who know where to look".

My original point (and I think that of KhunOr, to which I was responding) and the point that you are overlooking, is that the trend in Thailand is likely to be far less "out in the open" sex establishments because Thais are tired of the international reputation they have. It doesn't matter that Singapore, Taipei, HK, & Tokyo still have plenty of prostitution; it's no longer out in the open like it is in Bangkok. As you said in your post "so long as you are prepared to travel further and research more thoroughly". In Bangkok, there's still no need to research or travel further; it's right there in the open. Ask any random Westerner not overly familiar with Asia as to which city is synonomous with prostitution. You know what the answer is...and that's what I think the middle and upper class Thais want to change. I'm not putting Bangkok on the bottom of any "totem pole", just stating a fact.

By the way, I have no personal "quest" or search; those days are long behind me. I simply added that line for a little levity. And, naturally, there are lots of places other than Thailand with abundant, cheap prostitution. But that doesn't alter the fact that Thailand IS changing...

I have to agree totally with Chmike, Singapore once famous for "the 6 floors of whores", right in the centre of Singapore, the sex scene is now really non existant, its has been pushed away to Geyland, a real shit hole where no tourist would ever venture, unless he was looking for it. Singapore now has gone Internet, many websites posting prostitution, phone numbers and pictures, check out http://www.sammyboyforum.com/ , so the scene has changed from high profile to unseen, and the price has gone up, your lucky to get an hour for 200$ sgd. 4,728.82 THB. Plus taxi and tip...

Now Bangkok has really only two areas, Nana and Cowboy and the last time i was in Nana, I was not impressed... expensive and hassled, dirty and smelly and Non Smoking...

Phuket is really tame, bangla road has a couple of bars where you may see a nipple or two, but thats really it, they are more catering for families, restaurants and themed bars are taking over the once thriving sex scene. (I hear girls can charge in excess of 3,000 baht, no longer 300 baht outside 7/11 at 1am, but i am sure some still will). Phuket has really changed and I believe the Government are seeing rewards down there, tourist numbers up, hotel occupancy increased, more private jets and luxury yatchs than ever before, increase in high end property ($4-5 Mill USD, high end in pattaya is 5 million baht).

Pattaya still has a very open scene but there is talk of closing it down and trying to move it toward 3rd rd area, only talk at the moment, but i am sure if the government want to move it (hide) they will.

Without side tracking, if these laws are further steps to "clean up" Thailand, then its called Progress, and you will never stop it, moan but you'll never stop it.

The film ratings has to be done, i hope they include cable tv in these laws? I watched that Rambo film at 8am one morning, not really fitting for breakfast tv (it made me late for work, lol)

the kareoke bars, if they mean these road side bars with fairly lights, then, if they get closed down, its no loss to tourism or anything else. They have been many cases of Thai on Thai murder in those bars, once for someone "pushing in" to sing, stabbed 30 times for his punishment... Or like the Soi Buakhoa Kareoke bars with 20 men sat outside, is that not just a brothel/pick up joint, trading under another licence?

[WAERTH]

Now Bangkok has really only two areas, Nana and Cowboy and the last time i was in Nana, I was not impressed... expensive and hassled, dirty and smelly and Non Smoking...

You really do not get out much do you? Nana and Cowboy are definitely not the only 2 areas in BKK. There are 1000's of Karaoke, Lounges etc spread out all over the city. Many of the beergirls in restaurants are on the take. Etc etc etc

Nana and Cowboy added up together do not even comprise 1% of the availabilities in BKK.

W

[Bluetongue]

Every time I go into the internet cafe in my small town, amphur size, rural, there are almost no terminals, they have about 40, there are school age kids playing shoot em up or dancing games "bungalow hello" echoes through my dreams sic nightmares. The last time there was teenage girl chatting to a purported german in bangkok, in between waiting for my screens to turnover I followed a large part of the exchange, "he" was certainly a predator, she was killing time. I guess these things sometimes progress though. I'm too straight these days to understand how.

There is no such thing as a time limit or apparently any financial constraints at 10bt ph even the public school kids at my home could afford it, what a joy to look forward to when I get hooked up at home

karaoke its an asian thing isn't it, as I understand it the recipients of the cash in places like patong are the boys waiting around late for the girls who want to indulge in some thai speaking compamy and are cashed up from their efforts with farangs earlier in the night

[britmaveric]

Now Bangkok has really only two areas, Nana and Cowboy and the last time i was in Nana, I was not impressed... expensive and hassled, dirty and smelly and Non Smoking...

Phuket is really tame, bangla road has a couple of bars where you may see a nipple or two, but thats really it, they are more catering for families, restaurants and themed bars are taking over the once thriving sex scene. (I hear girls can charge in excess of 3,000 baht, no longer 300 baht outside 7/11 at 1am, but i am sure some still will). Phuket has really changed and I believe the Government are seeing rewards down there, tourist numbers up, hotel occupancy increased, more private jets and luxury yatchs than ever before, increase in high end property ($4-5 Mill USD, high end in pattaya is 5 million baht).

This comment alone tells me you are fking clueless - Bangkok spread all over you conveniently left off PatPong. I have no idea what you are talking about in regards to Phuket have you been off the side Sois of Bangla ever??? As far as Pattaya goes - you need to shut down the entire Beach/Walking/2nd Road for starters and this doesnt count every side Soi in between. We haven't even gotten to all the freelancers present most anywhere you go in Thailand.

Sorry for all those negative sorts out there, this will never will happen. Thailand - prostitution is a national institution, and its not going anywhere - once the narrow minded westerners realize this - they can start whinging about smth else.

Edited July 31, 2009 by britmaveric

[wilsongbrown]

Now Bangkok has really only two areas, Nana and Cowboy and the last time i was in Nana, I was not impressed... expensive and hassled, dirty and smelly and Non Smoking...

Phuket is really tame, bangla road has a couple of bars where you may see a nipple or two, but thats really it, they are more catering for families, restaurants and themed bars are taking over the once thriving sex scene. (I hear girls can charge in excess of 3,000 baht, no longer 300 baht outside 7/11 at 1am, but i am sure some still will). Phuket has really changed and I believe the Government are seeing rewards down there, tourist numbers up, hotel occupancy increased, more private jets and luxury yatchs than ever before, increase in high end property ($4-5 Mill USD, high end in pattaya is 5 million baht).

This comment alone tells me you are fking clueless - Bangkok spread all over you conveniently left off PatPong. I have no idea what you are talking about in regards to Phuket have you been off the side Sois of Bangla ever??? As far as Pattaya goes - you need to shut down the entire Beach/Walking/2nd Road for starters and this doesnt count every side Soi in between. We haven't even gotten to all the freelancers present most anywhere you go in Thailand.

Sorry for all those negative sorts out there, this will never will happen. Thailand - prostitution is a national institution, and its not going anywhere - once the narrow minded westerners realize this - they can start whinging about smth else.

Whilst I agree with you regarding the fact that in Phuket (as has pointed out many times before) prostitution is not the sole preserve of soi Bangla, and that not only the 'side sois' off Bangla, but large swathes of Phuket have been infested by the touting of Thai women for sex - just take a look down the road leading to Chalong pier, and that once nice brow of the hill over Nai Harn, and you'll see the 'hello welcome' thing going on, the general concensus amongst the Thais I know is that it's become an embarrassment.

I mean, how would you feel if your country was referred to as 'the biggest brothel in the world'?

As an aside, I do see an awful lot of posters here getting all steamed up about the new government's proposal of cleaning up Thailand's image, why's that do you think?

[dude007]

This reminds me of Purachai Piumsombun...

You mean Mullah Purachai Piumsombun?

[Belthazar]

Too much ado about nothing, just see this article:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/rea...d=karaoke+rules

So many here are blaming farangs of being fuel for prostitution in Thailand, but when You look at data provided by NGOs, You will se that only 10-20 precent of girls are taking care of farangs. 80 percent goest to local Thai men

[animatic]

Wow serious back-peddla on the Kariaoke partners...

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/rea...karaoke%20rules

Teera yesterday said such venues required third category business establishment licenses from the Interior Ministry.

Thailand has 4,246 karaoke venues where drinking companions are allowed.

Wording earlier ALL drinking companions banned.

Then you heard the howling for 24 hours.

BOOM.

Just in shopping malls sorry to offend!!

[mike404045]

I'd just like to say enforcing laws on internet cafe's is pointless..

the laws are already toostrict, and to me are ridiculous! And i would also like to say that internet cafe owners find ways around the laws.. examples: the 10PM law for minors, shops will close the front of their shop 'for appearance sake' and still let kids play thru to early/late morning.. or the 'can only play for 3 hours at a time' law, the shop owners will clear the time counters on the server computer when they reach 2 hours..

its simply impossible for police to check and enforce these laws.. then only real thing they can do is check your shop for licensing things like illegal downloading of thai songs and sex related things.. And believe me if they catch you its MASSIVE fines.. I got done 60,000 baht for one computer that had sex movies on it...

anyway they should go and fight crime, impose heavier laws against motorcyclists and drink driving, drugs and prostitution.. kids playing online games, titty pictures on the net and some mp3's are not such a big deal!!!!!!!!

[MaiChai]

This will probably put a few people out of work.

The Cabinet has approved new regulations that prohibit karaoke parlours from providing drinking or singing partners to customers, with their business licences being revoked if they do.

I can the police enforcing this new regulation, since they are the folks often involved in this business.

Sounds a bit like the law about prostitution being illegal I remember all the fuss about that law, and what happened to that?

On a more serious note this sounds like another nail in the coffin for the "entertainment business", which is one of the big draws for Thailand tourism (along with recent increases in tax for alcohol, etc, that has made drinking expensive). Whether you love or hate this business, its one of the reasons why folks come here.

[britmaveric]

I mean, how would you feel if your country was referred to as 'the biggest brothel in the world'?

I could care less mate what others think - it only matters what I think!! Any rate its not going to change anytime soon that's smth we all can agree on!!

[cecco]

Too much ado about nothing, just see this article:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/rea...d=karaoke+rules

So many here are blaming farangs of being fuel for prostitution in Thailand, but when You look at data provided by NGOs, You will se that only 10-20 precent of girls are taking care of farangs. 80 percent goest to local Thai men

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the mountains are full of brothels, hand jobs, blow jobs, and what not. it's much cheaper than you chonburi and krungthep guys pay. also, many church groups are burmese drug dealer pastors who also deal in skin traffic. but telling people how evil the Chao Tarng Prathed are is just a nice smoke screen for reality.