School’s out on alcohol ban; Phuket Police warn of full countermeasures

[Lite Beer]

School’s out on alcohol ban; Phuket Police warn of full countermeasures

Phuket Police have warned they will enforce the full ban until clarification arrives from Bangkok.

PHUKET: Raids on nightlife venues in Phuket Town on Monday night (July 27) marked the island’s first foray into clamping down on venues selling alcohol near educational institutions – an issue that has sparked confusion and controversy in Bangkok.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Pachara Boonyasit on Tuesday (July 28) called the chiefs of all police stations in Phuket to a meeting at Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town to order them to enforce the ban on the sale of alcohol within 300 metres of any “educational institution”.

Gen Pachara explained that he understood “educational institutions” to include all places of education, from pre-schools and kindergartens to primary and secondary schools to technology institutes, polytechnic colleges and university campuses.

“Everything must be followed by the NCPO [National Council for Peace and Order] command published on July 23, which means we are to inspect all areas near education places in Phuket,” he said.

Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Theerapol Tipcharoen was terse in his warning. “Anyone found selling alcohol within 300m of any educational place, get ready to be closed down. We have to protect children, that is the national command,” he told The Phuket News.

More than 100 officers, including naval security personnel, staged the raids on nightlife venues throughout Phuket Town on Monday night to ensure that operators were not selling alcohol to underage youths. Officers also checked for drugs and to ensure that venue operators had the required licenses to sell alcohol.

The raids began at 10pm after Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong passed down the order to make sure all officers throughout Phuket were upholding their duty “to enforce the law seriously to decrease crime and social problems and to protect teenagers from alcohol”

Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Kraithong Chanthongbai told The Phuket News that any operators found breaking the order will have their licenses to sell alcohol revoked.

“Phuket City Police will check all areas within city limits, including Sapan Hin and the Baan Kuku area [in Rassada]. They will seize alcohol licenses from any restaurants or bars found breaking the law,” assured.

Meanwhile, Col Akanit Danpitaksan, Deputy Superintendent of Kathu Police station, confirmed the order will be upheld in Patong.

“This act clearly covers every province, and that includes Phuket,” he said. “There are two schools in Patong: Sai Nam Yen School and Wat Suwankhiriwong School, and we will check the areas around both.”

Col Akanit pointed out the police will not be working alone. “Other officials such as Patong Municipality and Phuket Health officials have to work with us,” he said.

While the current interpretation of the law seems harsh, Gen Pachara on Wednesday said this would apply until further notice. Any changes in the understanding of how the law is to be applied will be clarified by orders received from Bangkok, he added.

CONFUSION IN THE CAPITAL

The confusion over the alcohol-free perimeter around places of education follows two separate law-making incidents. The first legal measure was an amendment to the 2008 Control of Alcoholic Beverage Act passed by the Office of Prime Minister on July 22. The amendment outlawed the sale of alcohol within 300m of the “boundary” of universities and colleges, both public and private. Lower schools were not included in the ban.

The amendment, which will come into effect 30 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette, also exempted hotels, wholesale factories and distributors, and businesses within “entertainment zones”.

In Bangkok, currently only Patpong district and parts of New Petchburi Rd and Ratchadapisek Rd are considered entertainment zones. Likewise, Phuket currently has only two entertainment zones: Patong’s Soi Bangla and 50m either side of it; and Taina Road in Karon.

Following the July 22 amendment, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also the leader NCPO, issued a separate order the next day – July 23 – that became effective immediately. The order was issued through the harsh penalties dictated through Section 44 of the interim constitution, sending a shudder of fear through the nightlife-operator community in Bangkok.

The NCPO order forbid the sale of alcohol in the “vicinity” of “educational institutions” and student dormitories. The scope of “vicinity” and “educational institutions” was not specified in the order, though the latter is defined in existing laws as including all levels of education, such as elementary schools and high schools.

The ensuing confusion has left operators and officials struggling to understand which order applies now and to who, and which definitions will apply after the July 22 amendment comes into effect later this year.

Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya on Monday tried to quell the controversy over the vaguely worded July 23 order banning alcohol sales “near” educational institutions, denying it prohibited booze sales within 300m of schools.

He also said that enforcement depended on the formation of new entertainment zones.

Minister Paiboon said it would take 180 days to draw up new entertainment zones that would clarify where alcohol could and could not be sold legally.

Until then, there’s nothing that says existing operators cannot sell booze within 300m of any school, he said.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/school-out-on-alcohol-ban-phuket-police-warn-of-full-countermeasures-53443.php

-- Phuket News 2015-08-01

[khwaibah]

And so the confusion continues.

[Somtamnication]

Tons of hotels and bars by Baan SaiNamYen school. Total idiocy for a tourist island.

Edited August 1, 2015 by Somtamnication

[chrisinth]

IMO, they really need to get their communications right.

Its a shame that owners couldn't sue for illegal closure, if that was the case and no underage drinkers were found. It may slow the mayhem......................

All these major individual power struggles inside the one organization.

[jimstar1]

Ha Ha keep the Jokes Coming I love it

[FangFerang]

It's another step in the right direction for this no-corruption government. Obviously, populist policies are only initiated by the opposition. This government wants to help. It's not populist. Mission accomplished!

[kannot]

so not one of the retards has a phone and can call higher up to ask?

[kannot]

I bet they get a lot of pre school kids drinking alcohol, what age would that be 2-3-4-5 years old, yeah sure to be tons of the drunk little buggers.

[dotpoom]

Two of the girls at the table still have their heads buried in their phones even while the commotion is going on....God help the chap who used to rely on chatting up the lady beside him as a way of meeting someone.....You could be Mr. Valentino these days and wouldn't even get noticed if there was a dozen gals sitting next to you at the table.

[NickJ]

Didn't I read that they were going to start enforcment in Six months after they set up areas that would be excluded as entertainment venues. So is it another case off the tail end not knowing what the head is doing? Another law that can be selectivly enforced at any officers whim....KA-CHING.

[BudRight]

Eat that Apoligists.

[Sparkles]

Ban on using phones in a public place might get my vote. Excessive ,compulsive modern day sickness.

[circusman]

Two of the girls at the table still have their heads buried in their phones even while the commotion is going on....God help the chap who used to rely on chatting up the lady beside him as a way of meeting someone.....You could be Mr. Valentino these days and wouldn't even get noticed if there was a dozen gals sitting next to you at the table.

Some folks can walk and chew gum at the same time. Meaning, the girls can talk on a phone and STILL see around the room.

[Chicken George]

How to close bars you don't like. Open a school within 300 metres. Watch out for those do gooders to open a school in the middle of Walking Street and close the lot in one fell swoop! ;-))

Edited August 1, 2015 by Chicken George

[Shawn0001]

I bet they get a lot of pre school kids drinking alcohol, what age would that be 2-3-4-5 years old, yeah sure to be tons of the drunk little buggers.

Is the sole purpose of the ban to stop the people from the institutions from drinking, which could by the way be the pre-school teachers, or is it also to prevent them from coming into contact alcohol related problems?

[Halion]

The RTP is a disgrace and a joke all wrapped up in one.

For once could they not be out rounding up the sex and drug industry which is known to be illegal or are the still waiting on conformation of that too

[Shawn0001]

How to close bars you don't like. Open a school within 300 metres. Watch out for those do gooders to open a school in the middle of Walking Street and close the lot in one fell swoop! ;-))

There actually already is a school within 300m, Muang Pattaya 8, but as was already made clear, this rule does not effect adult entertainment zones and they plan to make more of these zones.

[mickyboy]

Two of the girls at the table still have their heads buried in their phones even while the commotion is going on....God help the chap who used to rely on chatting up the lady beside him as a way of meeting someone.....You could be Mr. Valentino these days and wouldn't even get noticed if there was a dozen gals sitting next to you at the table.

there are 3 them one to the left them head stuck in phone maybe they are texting each other

[Jimlove]

Tons of hotels and bars by Baan SaiNamYen school. Total idiocy for a tourist island.

True ... Thailand is just not able to run a country as a tourist destination even tho they should have some knowledge now after being a touristhub for about 30 years ...

Seems like they can make a mess of everything they touch ... just like a small child but at least children are cute, this is just an embarassment ...

[maderaroja]

Good job! They should extend the alcohol-free area to 1 Km from educational institutions. Enforcement is what's needed.

[natway09]

Again, another half cocked idea, brought into force without explaining nor in fact isolating what trying to achieve.

I totally agree with stopping underage drinking, drugs & maybe some merit in distance from schools but clarify all

first & look at rammifications before just implementing

[firestar]

Good job! They should extend the alcohol-free area to 1 Km from educational institutions. Enforcement is what's needed.

Riiiiight... and let's force those girls to cover up, look at those short dresses.... stop dreaming of Thaighanistan... just because you don't have fun anymore nobody else should ?

_______________

Edited August 1, 2015 by firestar

[wabothai]

180 days to determine entertainment zones.

So why start now with issuing tickets?

Just issue a law where kids underage can't buy alcohol just like in most democracies around the world, where you have to show identification. Misuse there always is.

[jaiyen]

So the police started their raid at 10pm ! Wonder how many schoolkids were around at that time ? What a

stupid rule thought up by stupid people and impossible to enforce cos they keep changing the rules.

LOS = Land Of Stupidity

[ironbark]

I thought those women were calling their "connections" to tell the cops to back off and go annoy another bar.

[Bangkok Barry]

There IS a law prohibiting sales to those under 20, but asking for ID from customers is too simple for Thailand. Instead, soldiers march into businesses demanding they shut down NOW. No warning - law passed in Section 44, immediate enforcement. Livelihood down the toilet, jobs lost for staff. Who would want to run a business in Thailand? Not me.

[Lupatria]

First we successfully killed the fishing and airline industry with absolute zero impact on our economy. Now we can go after tourism...

[wotaplonker]

Two of the girls at the table still have their heads buried in their phones even while the commotion is going on....God help the chap who used to rely on chatting up the lady beside him as a way of meeting someone.....You could be Mr. Valentino these days and wouldn't even get noticed if there was a dozen gals sitting next to you at the table.

ummm they will notice a wallet full of baht

[crazykopite]

Two words describe this new ruling " AMAZING THAILAND "

[jerojero]

Every RTP wants to run their own little corner of the country. All like kings of their little castles. "Look at me, I'm a big man because I have (dubious) laws and a gun backing me." Royal should be ashamed to be named this Force as such. Such an embarrassment. Top to bottom.

Edited August 1, 2015 by jerojero