Midnight Curfew Rule Postponed For Further Review

[Guest timbee]

OOOOweee

With 10 postings I get a Member ... now all that spam I get about penis enlargement will make sense! As long as I don't ever get a Fractured Member, I guess I should be happy!

[sanook]

George,

I have seen nothing of the postponement of bar closing hours in tne Bangkok Post or The Nation. It seems as tho you are always "scooping" them! Good job on the reporting of this story.....

[MekhongKurt]

Hey Mekhongkurt, Well posed to something GREAT? GET A GRIP! The only thing Thaksin is after is to make himself richer and keep the poor uneducated. He didn't care when he put his education proposal up (which HM shot down) and he DAM# sure didn't care when the bird flu came here. How many people must die because he wants to line his or his cronies pockets.

Hi, Kringle --

I clearly failed to distiguish between the current government's power to do good and its inclination to do so.

I think the numbers of Thai Rak Thai MP's speak for themselves: PM Thaksin and the TRT have a commanding control of Parliament and the government generally. Allow me to point out that part of the last sentence of my earlier post reads "I will become very encouraged when that administration does something both worthy and substainable (unlike the bankrupting 30-baht health scheme) tp help the nation." I had thought that made clear that I am singularly unimpressed with the current administration.

We don't disagree in our assessments. But given the realities, all any of us can do, especially we foreigners who can't vote in elections anyway, is to try to keep some faint hope that enough people within Thai Rak Thai will come to their senses -- whether out of pure greed or not -- and realize that Thais are wising up.

Or that's what I hope is going on. But if not, it won't be the first time I have been wrong.

Hope this makes the distinction between ability and probabilty -- as I do agree.

[royar2002]

So the kindergardencop reverse again. Sorry for the Thai, but this only make the government looks more and more stupid.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

So the kindergardencop reverse again. Sorry for the Thai, but this only make the government looks more and more stupid.

It's on ... it's off ... it's on ... it's off ... it's on ... it's off ... it's on Has Cheerless Leader had a lobotomy ?

[The Gentleman Scamp]

The world needs a good laugh right now, and Thaksin, bless 'im, is doing a splendid job!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The world needs a good laugh right now, and Thaksin, bless 'im, is doing a splendid job!

He'd hoped the world was gonna laugh with him, but alas, the world and half of Thailand are laughing AT him

[system7]

And i was hoping to get a cheap condo in pattaya...

bussiness as usual lol...

[davee58]

OK so the midnight closing is cancelled (or is that delayed??)

Not being in Thailand at the moment I would be interested to know what happened last night, what time were people served till in Nana / Cowboy and other nightlife areas.

Who got served the latest drink??

[Deadcert]

Just take a look at the escapades of Tony Blair and his bunch of loosers if you want a real laugh/cry. It would appear to me that Thailand doesn't have a monopoly on useless politicians.

Blair makes me wanna throw up and as for George I can't string a sentance together Bush, just don't getme started !!!!

[Longsands]

Pop Quiz

Has Cheerless Leader had a lobotomy ? 

What's wrong with this question?

[george]

Follow-up:

Midnight closing reprieve for venues

BANGKOK: Night entertainment venues licensed before January 13, 2004, would not be subject to new midnight closing rules, under draft regulations approved yesterday by the Cabinet.

The new provisions also stipulate that no new night spots would be allowed to open outside designated entertainment zones in Bangkok and other cities after the rules take effect.

The draft rules on entertainment venues’ opening and closing times require all establishments licensed before January 13 to close at 1 am. Exceptions include night clubs and bars, subject to 2 am closings, and lounges, restaurants, tea houses and massage parlours, which would have to close at midnight.

Any new entertainment locales licensed after January 13, but before the new statutes take effect in April, and that are located outside designated zones would be subject to the midnightclosing time.

The regulations don’t stray much from current laws requiring pubs, discotheques, cafes, restaurants with live bands, and cabarets to close at 1 am. In spite of the law on the books, most of them generally stretch out their closing times until 2 am.

In January, the Cabinet assigned Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsomboon to conduct a study on closing times. His solution was to apply a zonesensitive midnight closing, a controversial proposal abandoned yesterday.

During the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Purachai argued that the government should stick to the zoning approach he originally proposed.

But Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the government preferred to focus on night spots with illegal activities on their premises. Any clubs found breaking the law outside the zones would be forced to close at midnight.

The new regulations would take effect April 1 and all entertainment venues would be required to request new licenses from the Ministry by March 13, Pracha said.

After April 1, the Ministry would not allow new night spots to open outside designated entertainment zones, according to Pracha.

The regulations designate entertainment zones in every province except Chiang Mai, Uttaradit, Samut Prakan, and Lamphun.

Bangkok has only three established entertainment districts – Patpong, New Petchburi and Ratchadaphisek. Some business owners on Khao San Road and Sukhumvit Road recently demanded that their areas be designated as entertainment zones too.

Additional ministerial regulations on entertainment zones were likely to be submitted for the Cabinet’s approval this month, said Vichien Chavalit, of the Department of Provincial Administration’s investigative and legal affairs bureau.

Chanya Saipornchai, owner of Krungthon Entertainment Complex in Bangkok, said nightentertainment businesses owners and employees would gather in front of the government house at 5am today to thank the government for allowing night spots to stay open past midnight.

But she added that even though entertainment spots would close at 1am, the government should allow customers to stay and drink until 2am.

--The Nation 2004-03-02

[et33.com]

me not in thailand yet

so good luck to all

who love to drink

cheers !!

[otherstuff1957]

[but she added that even though entertainment spots would close at 1am, the government should allow customers to stay and drink until 2am.

--The Nation 2004-03-02

Huh?

I guess she's proposing an 1am drink special.... A giant beer that you can nurse until 2am! LOL

[fatter than harry]

But she added that even though entertainment spots would close at 1am, the government should allow customers to stay and drink until 2am.

Its this which is causing confusion down our way, last night some bars in Phuket were not selling beer after 1am - ok they were really but not overtly although they are allowed to stay open until 2am.

It does make going out all the more entertaining, I just cant see many farangs hanging around between one and two with no alcohol to take the edge off Las Ketchup song

[Ricardo]

Just take a look at the escapades of Tony Blair and his bunch of loosers if you want a real laugh/cry.

Hey DeadCert - don't give us loosers such a bad name ! God help me - I actually twice voted for him - but am now reformed, and regret it. Promise to abstain in future!

[Ricardo]

Pop Quiz

Has Cheerless Leader had a lobotomy ? 

What's wrong with this question?

(Pop)(/Question)

Well - it implies the pre-existance of a brain, to work on

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Just take a look at the escapades of Tony Blair and his bunch of loosers if you want a real laugh/cry.

Hey DeadCert - don't give us loosers such a bad name ! God help me - I actually twice voted for him - but am now reformed, and regret it. Promise to abstain in future!

Persuade other voters to follow your fine example Tony can go look for the weapons in retirement

[thailien8]

The Nation on March 4 had an article about the uncertain closing hours and the reactions of people abroad. The consensus of opinion was that only an idiot would kill off the tourist industry with midnight closings in the time of bird flu worries, so (in the eternal hope that Thai gov't. is not all idiots) the early closing must have something to do with terrorism. Perhaps they are trying to placate the anti-fun Muslims who are causing such problems in southern Thailand. Maybe they are trying to discourage would-be bombers from bringing their grievances to the nightspots to the North (as the Chechens have already done in Moscow).

If the Thai gov't. is at all concerned with preventing bombings of nightspots, why have they still not done anything visible to stop possible car or motorcycle bombers from easily entering places like Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy (among others). Some simple barricades put up at the wide-open entrances of these places during evening hours would really help show that some effort is being made to protect the lives of tourists. I and several friends have pretty much stopped going to entertainment places that we used to frequent, as we do not want to end up in the next Bali-style bombing.

[britmaveric]

Terrorism? Well that might be a valid reason, but to be honest if something like Bali is going to happen not much anyone can do about it. (see Iraq or Israel as an example). Only course of action is continue as you have or you might as well lock yourself in your house and not go outside.

[Rinrada]

Had a chat with old mama-san friend (honest)in what used to be the Shadow bar.Soi Cowboy.....remember Crazy Jack who died about 5-6 years ago.Anyway gin joint now called the Cock-tail lounge and she recons she NO Shut at welve o-cloc...MPR _TIT...sothats it Thai Mama-san power rules

[george]

remember Crazy Jack who died about 5-6 years ago.

Was this the tall, thin Dutch guy who also runned Schlitz (spelling?) at Soi Cowboy?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

remember Crazy Jack who died about 5-6 years ago.

Was this the tall, thin Dutch guy who also runned Schlitz (spelling?) at Soi Cowboy?

There was an Aussie John who died a few years back .... Apache Bar

[Lioneric]

Mr Taksin has done a good job but we can't ask a smoker to quit smoking in over night,Thailand have it beauty day and night life. That is why tourist came here not to sit in hotel room after 1 p.m. Why should he stay in hotel here ,he can sit at home watch tv by not using so much money, cab drivers,pub owners,hawkers are all affected by this ruling.

Philipines- till 5a.m, Malaysia-till 3p.m ,Thailand?.

[DeDanan]

I am a new comer to LOS, a regular visitor for 3 years now. I don’t know how it was or how it will be but I cant think of any where else I would like to be. Maybe the BUDDHA understood it best, nothing lasts ! So, let us enjoy the moment.

Have a Happy...

DeDanan