Thai Police Propose To Extend Nightlife Closing Times By Two Hours To 4Am

[webfact]

Police call for longer opening hours gets mixed reviews

File photo

BANGKOK: -- A police proposal to extend nightlife closing times by two hours to 4am is getting a mixed reaction.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has proposed the extension as part of preparations for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) launch in 2015.

MPB deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Adul Narongsak said last week the bureau is preparing to submit the proposal to the Interior Ministry.

The proposal seeks to amend the law controlling entertainment venues so bar and nightclub closing times can be extended.

The Bangkok Post talked to several people who would be affected by extended closing times - bar operators, a student and an activist.

Chaiyot Yimsamai, the owner of a bar in Din Daeng district, said he agreed with the proposal because he stands to profit from it.

He said the new rule, if approved, could be a boon for his business because more tourists and foreigners will visit Thailand, and especially Bangkok, after the AEC's launch, and many of them would like to enjoy the city's nightlife.

"If I can open my bar until 4am, I can make more money to feed my family and employees," he said.

But another bar operator said he did not expect a later closing time to make much difference to his bottom line, and in fact would probably not stay open any later anyway.

Nonthadetch Booranasitthiporn, who runs a bar in Phaya Thai district, predicted few customers after 2am. Most of them visit his bar from 10pm and are happy to go home at 2am, he said.

Mr Nonthadetch added that even if the extended opening hours were approved, he would probably still close as normal at 2am to give his staff more time to clean the venue.

Another bar owner, Aphirak Beaupracha, who owns a nightlife venue in Watthana district, said he could see good points and bad about the proposal.

"I may make more money, but my employees would have to work harder and I may lose staff as a result," he said.

He said many customers are fans of European football and they often ask him to stay open during matches which are broadcast about 2-3am Thai time.

"From a business point of view, I can't deny that a change in the closing time would be agreeable," he said.

Surasit Sinlapa-ngam, director of the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation, however, disagrees with the proposal.

He said it was inappropriate to cite the AEC's launch in proposing the new closing times.

Bars and nightclubs should close at reasonable times to help reduce road accidents and crimes, Mr Surasit said.

"There are many other ways to welcome foreigners and tourists after the launch of the AEC," he said.

He suggested improving Thailand's tourist attractions and promoting Thai culture would be a more responsible approach.

"Attracting foreigners and tourists with late-night bars and nightclubs is not a good idea," he said.

University student Aitsaya Harakarn, 18, said later closing times could help cut crime.

"Changing the closing time to 4am could reduce crime, particularly rape and robbery, because it will be morning by the time would-be burglars and rapists leave the bars," she said.

She believed they would be less likely to commit crimes after 4am because it is the start of a new day and some early-risers would already be up and about.

Read the original story here.

-- Phuket News 2013-04-16

[EyesWideOpen]

<deleted> ???????????? I seem to recall just last week there was some

sort of crackdown on bars that were open late ? Oh well, never a dull

moment here in miracle Thailand...

[technologybytes]

"Changing the closing time to 4am could reduce crime, particularly rape
and robbery, because it will be morning by the time would-be burglars
and rapists leave the bars," she said.

I never heard a more stupid statement than that!

[rubl]

"The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has proposed the extension as part of preparations for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) launch in 2015."

I doubt I've ever heard a more hilarious reason for extending opening hours. It's close to our PM justifying charter change because foreigners don't like it. At least the director of the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation Surasit Sinlapa-ngam sees how ridiculous the MPB statement is.

BTW to which part of the Police Force did our second-best candidate Pol. General Pongsapat return? I thought not the MPB, but with this topic I start to wonder.

[mancub]

Proposed by the Metropolitan Police Bureau...based on greed and corruption....

Opposed by

Surasit Sinlapa-ngam, director of the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation,....based on common sense !

You would kinda hope that both parties had a common interest ! Amazing !

The bar owner who is concerned about making more money ,but losing staff wouldn't consider paying them more I suppose ,and as for the University student's comments.....Missy, your education authority has failed you miserably ...if you had to bribe your way in, suggest you ask for a refund !

[bluegum]

One hopes that these new regulations would not apply to bars in residential areas which, in my area at least, are already creating unacceptable disturbances throughout the night. Mind you, many of them are illegal anyway and operate with tacit approval from the local police station, so regulations are clearly not much constraint to their business.

The reasons given for extending hours are ludicrous. They really are stretching their imaginations (and insulting our intelligence) to bring ASEAN cooperation into the argument. And the suggestion that 4:00 a.m. closing will reduce crime (early risers, beware!) is so ridiculous that it too may gain traction and be used as another selling point for what is clearly just a tactic to increase tea money flow.

It is incredulous that a Metropolitan Police Bureau should make such a proposal! In the light of day they lay their cards on the table for all to see - they may as well put up billboards advertising their nefarious connections to the nightlife industry.

[HeavyDrinker]

I think it's a splendid idea and good common sense all round in spite of the rather odd nature of the reasons given here.

[soinowinbkk]

Great idea and about time! In the past it was like this (late night openings everywhere and by every place). It was the "New Social Order" of the Thaksin regime that stopped it, for no good reason (rumors were so that his son would stop partying all night...). These closures seriously hurt toursim by young people, forcing many to abandon Bangkok for Singapore or Hong Kong.

How can we 'help' this decision to be made favorable to nightlife businesses?

[Newguy70]

Anyone who has been here long enough knows that the numbers are WAY down in (Nana, Soi Cowboy, and Patpong), it's called simple observation. This is the only way they can make up the income.

Maybe if they learned to embrace the nightlife they could all benefit from it,for example stop charging 120 baht for beers !

[biplanebluey]

If This proposal had come from sort of "Bar owners federation" or the like I could have understood it but the METROPOLITAN POLICE???????. The proposal from bar owners would have been to make more money however the proposal from the police is purely to --------- make more money!!!!!!

OK------ lets do it and make everybody happy------------Never heard so much crap in all my life

[NongKhaiKid]

"Changing the closing time to 4am could reduce crime, particularly rape

and robbery, because it will be morning by the time would-be burglars

and rapists leave the bars," she said.

I never heard a more stupid statement than that!

Even rapists need to get their 8 hours in, how else do they have the energy to go out and rape ?

[hellodolly]

I really don't think it is going to bring in hordes of visitors because they can stay an extra two hours in the bars. As is more come for other reasons than bars.

I don't see where the bars stand to make much more money off of it as their staff will still be needed to receive pay and many drinkers have slowed down the rate of consumption at those hours.

I do not understand how the boys in Blue would gain. As has been stated here all ready many bars will close at Two o'clock there by no more tea money there and the ones who stay open until Four o'clock will have far less customers wanting to stay. All in all a cut in the tea money flowing in to the BIB.

[cup-O-coffee]

When those with lawless minds become the law, then all is lost!

[NongKhaiKid]

<deleted> ???????????? I seem to recall just last week there was some

sort of crackdown on bars that were open late ? Oh well, never a dull

moment here in miracle Thailand...

In my local municipality all bars tend to close on time except one very " well connected ' establishment which closes when the last customer leaves and has never been troubled by the BIB.

[charmonman]

For those who think it would increase tourism; for *&%%$s sake, there are already too many tourists in Thailand (over 20 million a year), you can barely move in some nightlife areas. Even the PM said a couple of weeks ago, in one of the most intelligent statements any Thai politician has ever made on the subject, that she thought there were too many tourists and that it was starting to have a negative effect.

[mancub]

Anyone who has been here long enough knows that the numbers are WAY down in (Nana, Soi Cowboy, and Patpong), it's called simple observation. This is the only way they can make up the income.

Maybe if they learned to embrace the nightlife they could all benefit from it,for example stop charging 120 baht for beers !

The places you've mentioned are essentially go-go bar areas ...can't imagine what the eye-candy (or attitude of said) would be like at 4am !

Your beer goggles must be a lot more effective than mine ! Your stamina also !

[hellodolly]

<deleted> ???????????? I seem to recall just last week there was some

sort of crackdown on bars that were open late ? Oh well, never a dull

moment here in miracle Thailand...

In my local municipality all bars tend to close on time except one very " well connected ' establishment which closes when the last customer leaves and has never been troubled by the BIB.

Are you talking about the one in Chiang Mai the BIB own? Soon to reopen in it's original location. At the moment under going some renovations.

[smokie36]

Yes make it 4am or 5am or 24 hour if people want to drink all night.

Nanny state. Let market forces dictate how many bars open.

[charmonman]

Anyone who has been here long enough knows that the numbers are WAY down in (Nana, Soi Cowboy, and Patpong), it's called simple observation. This is the only way they can make up the income.

Maybe if they learned to embrace the nightlife they could all benefit from it,for example stop charging 120 baht for beers !

I don't really go to Nana or Patpong much but I do occasionally find myself on Soi Cowboy and it is WAAY more crowded than I ever remember it in the past quarter century. Patpong's problem, as far as I can tell, has nothing to do with overall tourism numbers, more to do with the fact that its full of luggage shops, rip-off bars, and that shabby night market. The surrounding area has also gone very gay, nightlife-wise, so its alright for gay men, maybe a bit less so for straights (unless they stay on Patpong 1 and 2 itself).

The other thing you may not be taking into account is that nightlife now consists of far more than gogo bars. Contrary to the past, most people just aren't that interested in these places anymore.

[DocN]

"Changing the closing time to 4am could reduce crime, particularly rape

and robbery, because it will be morning by the time would-be burglars

and rapists leave the bars," she said.

I never heard a more stupid statement than that!

No...I usually didn't know what to do with myself, after being thrown out of the bar at 2 am.

[NomadJoe]

Anyone who has been here long enough knows that the numbers are WAY down in (Nana, Soi Cowboy, and Patpong), it's called simple observation. This is the only way they can make up the income.

Maybe if they learned to embrace the nightlife they could all benefit from it,for example stop charging 120 baht for beers !

You get the strangest avatar award.

[sammycic]

The Land of Noddy

[mike123ca]

I think the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) should propose that foreigner's should be able to own land.

That way the police will not have to waste time and valuable resource in investigating land ownership.

[charmonman]

As for the 18 year old university student's idea, looking around at the customers in some bars these days, maybe she's right. They do all look like burglars and rapists!

[whybother]

If This proposal had come from sort of "Bar owners federation" or the like I could have understood it but the METROPOLITAN POLICE???????. The proposal from bar owners would have been to make more money however the proposal from the police is purely to --------- make more money!!!!!!

OK------ lets do it and make everybody happy------------Never heard so much crap in all my life

I thought the police WERE the "Bar Owners Federation".

[Beetlejuice]

But of course none of these relaxation of restrictions will apply to Chiang Mai.

The implementation of strict closing times, not allowing the opening of new adult entertainment venues and the toning down of existing businesses will continue.

Whether some agree with these policies or not, it is really a case of having standards, it`s OK for us, but not OK for you scenario.

In Chiang Mai, for those of us who enjoy these sorts of social, the choices have been taken away, whether we like it or not.

None of this makes any sense to me.

[NongKhaiKid]

<deleted> ???????????? I seem to recall just last week there was some

sort of crackdown on bars that were open late ? Oh well, never a dull

moment here in miracle Thailand...

In my local municipality all bars tend to close on time except one very " well connected ' establishment which closes when the last customer leaves and has never been troubled by the BIB.

Are you talking about the one in Chiang Mai the BIB own? Soon to reopen in it's original location. At the moment under going some renovations.

I'm sure there are many such places but the one I mentioned is in Udon Thani. Tip of a Thai iceberg

[OzMick]

I'm sure Samui police would hate this idea, as it would deprive them of most of the income they receive for "special" licences which extend trading hours to 5am.

A poor sleeper, I know it's time to get up when the bass beat falls silent. Its like an old movie set in Africa - the time to worry is when the natives' drums stop beating.

[NomadJoe]

The question the police have asked themselves here is do they make more money in payoffs from bars to stay open, or do they make more money in the bars they own by closing later. I guess we know the answer.

[monty1412]

"Changing the closing time to 4am could reduce crime, particularly rape

and robbery, because it will be morning by the time would-be burglars

and rapists leave the bars," she said.

I never heard a more stupid statement than that!

wait ,wait I have one thats more stupid.. nah on reflection its not as stupid.. your right this statement takes the cake.. flatline on a brain scan I feel..