Will Pattaya Be Affected By 12am No-drink Cutoff?

[Up2U]

Yes, I have seen the map now.

But I still stand by my memory of there being exclusions in the original plan. Unfortunately it was published in the Pattaya Mail in 2001, which is not available on their Internet archive. 1999 is OK, 2002 is OK, but I can find no log-in facility for 2000 or 2001.

And at that time it deeply interested me, so I am confident that there were supplementary clauses.

I can't afford to search the Bangkok Post, but I will try The Nation for any light that can be shed on this.

[Up2U]

This is what I found quickly on web-site for 'The Nation'. Sorry if I infringe any copyright, but most people seem to clip and paste.

'NEW SOCIAL ORDER': Purachai wants zones redrawn

Published on Sep 15, 2001

Interior minister confident that people will want to play sport and music rather than go to entertainment venues

Interior Minister Pura-chai Piumsombun yesterday asked the Bangkok Metropolitan Administra-tion (BMA) and eight other provincial administrations to redraw their entertainment zoning plans.

Purachai said the eight provinces - Chiang Rai, Lampang, Tak, Surin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Songkhram, Chon Buri and Phuket - needed to rethink their entertainment zones because their plans did not have enough details and certain zones included temples and schools.

Purachai said the entertainment zones should not overlap with schools and temples.

The minister also said aerial photos of the zones needed to be attached to the maps of entertainment zones.

He said he had asked the BMA to reconsider its zoning plan and send it back to the Interior Ministry in 30 days.

Purachai said he did not agree with the plan, which has as many as six entertainment zones, and in particular a proposal to make the Ram Indra area an entertainment zone since the area currently has only one karaoke bar.

"I think the Ram Indra area should be made a sports or a park-zone instead. I am confident that in the future people will not seek recreation by going to entertainment places, but they will play sports or play music instead," Purachai said. (Especially the beer-gutted middle-aged tourist )

The minister was speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Local Administration Department (LAD) director-general, Town and Country Planning Department director-general, Public Works Department director-general, BMA city clerk, some senior police officers and representatives of other government agencies.

Purachai said he had called the meeting of all government agencies concerned with the entertainment-zone plans as part of his social-order policy because some agencies did not fully understand his campaign.

Purachai said he had asked the LAD to confirm whether certain provincial administrations did not want entertainment places in their provinces because if that were the case, the government would issue a royal decree declaring their provinces entertainment-free places. (Aiming for a tourist-free Thailand ?)

He said the decree would have to be amended later if the provincial administration changed its mind. (When they starved to death)

The minister said Khao San Road would not be labelled an entertainment zone because the area is on Rattanakosin Island and is near temples and the Royal Palace. He said entertainment places in the area would not be allowed to remain open after midnight.

Satchunij Pornpong

THE NATION

Added comments in (****) by Up2U

[manfromoz]

Up2U

You are quoting something from 2 years ago. This legislation appears to be still changing on a daily basis....

I would have agreed with what they had proposed (from your recolection) about bars close to Wats and schools. But that would mean someone responsible for civic mindeness would have to be in charge... not going to happen near here anytime soon. Far too much tea money to be had.