Bad News For Bar Owners – 1am Closing Is To Stay

[britmaveric]

Bad News for bar owners – 1am closing is here to stay, for now.

At Pattaya City Hall, an important meeting took place concerning bars and other entertainment venues around Pattaya. The meeting was jointly chaired by Khun Chanyut, Member of Parliament for Chonburi Province, Khun Worawit, the Chief of Banglamung District, Khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya and Police Colonel Somnook, the Chief of Pattaya Police. Attendees included representatives from many bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues from around the City. At first it was thought that a positive announcement regarding an amendment to bar closing hours was going to be announced. Unfortunately this was not the case. It was mentioned however that only 432 venues are correctly licensed, this out of over 1,000 venues which should possess a drinks license. It was stressed that every venue must obtain the correct license or they will be subject to either a fine or closure. The matter of religious holidays was brought up and bar owner were told that the sale of alcohol on these days is not permitted and Police will be checking bars more extensively in the future to ensure they adhere to these regulations. Finally the bad news for bar owners, it was confirmed that for now all venues serving alcohol must close at 1am in accordance with current laws.

-Pattaya City News

[davethailand]

Thought as much.

I'D LIKE TO GIVE OUT A BIG THANKS TO ALL THOSE BAR OWNERS WHO DID'NT FOLLOW THE RATHER BROAD HINTS AND RULES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS.

OPENING WHEN TOLD NOT TO AND BEING TOO GREEDY TO PURCHSE THE CORRECT LICENSES HAVE F**KED IT UP FOR THE REST OF US.

Lets hope the people that don't follow the rules get fined in the hope that oneday pattaya will be looked upon as a bit more responsible.

The tea money collecters have spent ages telling people not to open and to shut early or be careful and nobody has listened, the crackdown will be even stronger now as they will be looked upon as incompetent.

[britmaveric]

Few bad apples spoils the bloody lot mentality.

[Jack Jones]

Will this include JP and the Marine Plaza, it was open all night when I went in May. I'm going back to Patts in 2 weeks.

[davethailand]

Will this include JP and the Marine Plaza, it was open all night when I went in May. I'm going back to Patts in 2 weeks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nope, I'm really fond of JP bar, I especially like going into my place in the morning and having puke all over my door.

[Jack Jones]

Cheers Dave, I promise that wasn't me

[davethailand]

Cheers Dave, I promise that wasn't me 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can normally be found next door in the Tiger Bar.

[lampard10]

Bad News for bar owners – 1am closing is here to stay, for now.

  At Pattaya City Hall, an important meeting took place concerning bars and other entertainment venues around Pattaya. The meeting was jointly chaired by Khun Chanyut, Member of Parliament for Chonburi Province, Khun Worawit, the Chief of Banglamung District, Khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya and Police Colonel Somnook, the Chief of Pattaya Police. Attendees included representatives from many bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues from around the City. At first it was thought that a positive announcement regarding an amendment to bar closing hours was going to be announced. Unfortunately this was not the case. It was mentioned however that only 432 venues are correctly licensed, this out of over 1,000 venues which should possess a drinks license. It was stressed that every venue must obtain the correct license or they will be subject to either a fine or closure. The matter of religious holidays was brought up and bar owner were told that the sale of alcohol on these days is not permitted and Police will be checking bars more extensively in the future to ensure they adhere to these regulations. Finally the bad news for bar owners, it was confirmed that for now all venues serving alcohol must close at 1am in accordance with current laws.

-Pattaya City News

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why is 1am closing here to stay when it's against Thai law to sell booze after midnight? Why do they make these rules pnly to counteract them with others. We are back to no booze between 2pm and 5pm after we had a tip off that there were plain clothes cops checking up. BTW The other Farang bar in Surin HAS been closed by the police for not complying with the rules. Apparently the mans wife reported him after an argument.

Edited April 28, 2005 by lampard10

[splitlid]

wow lampad, that means you have a monopoly..

business must be booming

[chuchok]

Bad News for bar owners – 1am closing is here to stay, for now.

  At Pattaya City Hall, an important meeting took place concerning bars and other entertainment venues around Pattaya. The meeting was jointly chaired by Khun Chanyut, Member of Parliament for Chonburi Province, Khun Worawit, the Chief of Banglamung District, Khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya and Police Colonel Somnook, the Chief of Pattaya Police. Attendees included representatives from many bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues from around the City. At first it was thought that a positive announcement regarding an amendment to bar closing hours was going to be announced. Unfortunately this was not the case. It was mentioned however that only 432 venues are correctly licensed, this out of over 1,000 venues which should possess a drinks license. It was stressed that every venue must obtain the correct license or they will be subject to either a fine or closure. The matter of religious holidays was brought up and bar owner were told that the sale of alcohol on these days is not permitted and Police will be checking bars more extensively in the future to ensure they adhere to these regulations. Finally the bad news for bar owners, it was confirmed that for now all venues serving alcohol must close at 1am in accordance with current laws.

-Pattaya City News

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why is 1am closing here to stay when it's against Thai law to sell booze after midnight? Why do they make these rules pnly to counteract them with others. We are back to no booze between 2pm and 5pm after we had a tip off that there were plain clothes cops checking up. BTW The other Farang bar in Surin HAS been closed by the police for not complying with the rules. Apparently the mans wife reported him after an argument.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[TravelFrog]

From Pattaya Today:

Local member of parliament Mr Chanyut Hengtrakul has assured Pattaya bar owners that he is aware of the loss of business since the 1 a.m. closure rule was introduced.

He said he knew full well that Pattaya was a tourist orientated city, attracting perhaps 10 billion baht a year in customer revenue, which had a good case for a universal closing time of 3 a.m. He promised to bring the licensing problems of the resort to the attention of the deputy interior minister Khun Somchai Sunthonwat as well as to prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. A meeting was held last week under the chairmanship of the Pattaya city hall president Khun Tawich Chaysawangwong which was attended by representatives of the bar and club owners’ collective as well as by civil dignitaries including Pattaya mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn. The meeting heard from the bar owners of several problems which were leading to difficulties. Licences to operate were issued annually, but all applications had to be submitted to Banglamung district and there were often delays before the new licences were issued. In the meantime, police sometimes visited the licensed premises and took or threatened action because the paperwork was not in order. Member of parliament Chanyut promised to ask the police to cooperate with bars and clubs if they were in the waiting period. But what caused a buzz in the meeting and afterwards was the suggestion that the closing time could be extended by two hours. The universal closing time of 1 a.m. has affected most bars and clubs in Pattaya detrimentally and visitors have complained loudly about the nanny state instructing them what to do and when to go home. One solution might be to allow the whole of Pattaya and Jomtien to be a “zone” because of the resort’s role as an international playground. Last year, there were informal suggestions from the ministry of the interior that the 1 a.m. closing rule might be relaxed in some areas after a period of rigid enforcement.

[barryofthailand]

I don't see the bars closing at 1 AM. Go to soi 7 and 8. The bars areopen 24 hours. they just shut off the music, and the colored lights. They turn on the tv and watch football. The booze and beer still flows. So what are people complaining about? The police do not enforce any laws here in Pattaya.

[Bel Mondo]

Closing time will be moved to 2AM by the end of next week.

There will be the "usual" visitation by the Interior Minister to "all" the bars in Pattaya with the following announcement that "Tourist Destinations" have this exemption.

Point---Purachai was a DISASTER for the Thai economy. This guy was only interested in his own personal agenda and using something (i.e., Social Order) as a "flirtation" to help him gain power. He's out and so is the s--t he proffered! Simple as this!

[bartender100]

Closing time will be moved to 2AM by the end of next week.

There will be the "usual" visitation by the Interior Minister to "all" the bars in Pattaya with the  following announcement that "Tourist Destinations" have this exemption. 

Point---Purachai was a DISASTER for the Thai economy. This guy was only interested in his own personal agenda and using something (i.e., Social Order) as a "flirtation" to help him gain power.  He's out and so is the s--t he proffered!  Simple as this!

Where did you hear that news?

[Bel Mondo]

From several Thai bar owners who attended the Friday meeting in Banglamung called by the local district administration.

[davethailand]

From several Thai bar owners who attended the Friday meeting in Banglamung called by the local district administration.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll believe it when i see it.

The impression i have is that when more bars actually bother to follow the law and get licensed correctly then they will review it.

[Sunny Valentine]

From several Thai bar owners who attended the Friday meeting in Banglamung called by the local district administration.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll believe it when i see it.

The impression i have is that when more bars actually bother to follow the law and get licensed correctly then they will review it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Licences to operate were issued annually, but all applications had to be submitted to Banglamung district and there were often delays before the new licences were issued. In the meantime, police sometimes visited the licensed premises and took or threatened action because the paperwork was not in order.

Could this be the problem some (lots?) of bars are having with getting licensed? I recall a report recently where the police shut down a bar because of license papers not ready, although the owner/manager said they have applied some time ago, and not received the papers yet ..... I can imagine very well, going to city hall to reapply two month before expiration, to be met with "come back in two month". Then apply, and wait a month or two, while the police ........

Sunny

[britmaveric]

Entertainment zoning meeting at Banglamung City Hall. 2am closing for bars could be on the way.

At Banglamung City Hall, a further meeting concerning entertainment zoning in the Pattaya area took place. At the head of the table was Khun Chanyut, member of parliament for Chonburi Province, Khun Worawit, the Chief of Banglamung District and Police Colonel’s Somnook and Waratshai, the Chiefs of Pattaya and Banglamung Police. The first topic of discussion related to bar licensing. It was stressed to representatives of the many bars and other entertainment venues who attended the meeting that every venue must possess the correct licenses and checks will be made over the coming weeks and fines or closure notices will be imposed on any unlicensed venues. Then it was confirmed that the 1am closing time is here to stay for now, however Khun Chanyut, who is strongly opposed to 1am closing, revealed an interesting development to this ongoing subject. The Interior Ministry has decided that certain areas, one of which is Pattaya, should be seriously considered as 2am entertainment zones. The Deputy Interior Minister will visit Pattaya soon to gauge opinion from bar owners, members of the public and tourists and will then report back to his superior who will then consider re-zoning Pattaya in order for venues to operate until 2am. Public opinion and those of business operators will undoubtedly be in favor of the later opening time. Khun Chanyut concluded by saying that he is hopeful of a change as long as bars comply with the current closing time and obtain the correct licenses to ensure that the Deputy Interior Minister finds nothing that may affect his decision.

-Pattaya City News

Sat 30 April 2005

[Humphrey Bear]

Entertainment zoning meeting at Banglamung City Hall. 2am closing for bars could be on the way.

  At Banglamung City Hall, a further meeting concerning entertainment zoning in the Pattaya area took place. At the head of the table was Khun Chanyut, member of parliament for Chonburi Province, Khun Worawit, the Chief of Banglamung District and Police Colonel’s Somnook and Waratshai, the Chiefs of Pattaya and Banglamung Police. The first topic of discussion related to bar licensing. It was stressed to representatives of the many bars and other entertainment venues who attended the meeting that every venue must possess the correct licenses and checks will be made over the coming weeks and fines or closure notices will be imposed on any unlicensed venues. Then it was confirmed that the 1am closing time is here to stay for now, however Khun Chanyut, who is strongly opposed to 1am closing, revealed an interesting development to this ongoing subject. The Interior Ministry has decided that certain areas, one of which is Pattaya, should be seriously considered as 2am entertainment zones. The Deputy Interior Minister will visit Pattaya soon to gauge opinion from bar owners, members of the public and tourists and will then report back to his superior who will then consider re-zoning Pattaya in order for venues to operate until 2am. Public opinion and those of business operators will undoubtedly be in favor of the later opening time. Khun Chanyut concluded by saying that he is hopeful of a change as long as bars comply with the current closing time and obtain the correct licenses to ensure that the Deputy Interior Minister finds nothing that may affect his decision.

-Pattaya City News

Sat 30 April 2005

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, but whether it's a 1.00 a.m. or 2.00 a.m. closing, it is still being applied across-the-board. There is no chance for some bars to open early, close early, getting the early-evening trade, some to close later, so on. To avoid exploiting their staff (more than is done anyway) a limited number of opening hours is an idea, but to have everyone mechanically pulling down shutters at the same time is crazy.

All the punters thrown out and all the girls turned into the street at the same time. What happens? Lots of non-bar-fine assignations, lots of girls shilling for 'black' bars that are still open, but with closed doors, thus promoting further illegal drinking and worse.

But with no experience of outside culture, or ways of combatting stupid drink laws (England, Scotland, Oz and the US have all had stupid drink laws, most of the Scandinavian countries still do!) what can we expect. Send the mayor of Pattaya to Singapore, Birmingham, Bristol and points West for a tour of discovery on how to handle Western drink problems, how not to handle them, what works and what doesn't. Then, if he has any clout, we may see some sanity creep into the 'Premier Holiday Resort in SE Asia'.