Thaksin: No Decision Yet On 1am Bar Closing

SOCIAL ORDER CRUSADE:

PM: No decision yet on 1am bar closing

BANGKOK: No decision has yet been made to force nightspots to close at 1am, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said.

The government was still figuring out the best time, but a decision could be expected in January.

Interior Ministry sources said earlier the government was likely to move the closing time for bars, pubs and clubs forward from 2am to 1am, effective from the Chinese New Year on Jan 22. Opening time would be 3pm, the sources said.

Legal operating hours of nightspots are 1pm to 1am, but most stay open till about 2am.

The prime minister said he understood that changing opening hours might affect nightspots, but believed the government, operators, employees and customers should meet half way. ``Is it not possible for an entertainment outlet operating for five hours from 9pm to 2am to open instead between 7pm and midnight? That is five hours as well.

``And couldn't their customers adjust a little bit,'' he said. ``Instead of staying out late, could they not go home to their families a little bit earlier?''

The prime minister said the new closing time would be decided in the best interests of the people, but he expected protests from business operators.

Mr Thaksin said the government could control nightspots better once the Entertainment Zoning Bill, now awaiting royal endorsement, was in force. He would also ask Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej to make sure all district directors know of problems area in their jursidiction.

--Bangkok Post 2003-12-26