Chiang Mai Bar Owners Ask Authorities to Extend Closing Hours to 2am

[webfact]

Bar Owners Ask Authorities to Extend Closing Hours to 2am
CityNews



CityNews – On December 1, ten representatives and entrepreneurs from bars and restaurants in Chiang Mai, led by Apinya Wairatpani, submitted documents to Chiang Mai Governor asking for closing hours to be pushed back to 2am like the rest of the country.

The group submitted the letter to the authorities and also forwateded another copy to General Prayuth Chan-ocha via Chiang Mai Damrongtham Centre, asking to extend bar and restaurant closing hours to 2am, just like other tourist cities across the country.

They submitted the request so their businesses could have a chance at competing with other tourist destinations. All the owners who submitted their documents had also made it clear that they had no record of law breaking and underage patrons.

Most of the bars owned by those who signed the letter are in the Loy Kroh and Thapae area.

“Chiang Mai is a tourist city. Most income is from tourism. Police and military have inspected our bars almost every day, affecting foreign tourists, who are our important customers. They are tourists. When they come to Chiang Mai, they want to enjoy it as much as they can. When it was midnight, police and military came and told us to close our bars. They told our customers to leave. Sometimes they even speak in English to our customers, saying “Get Out”.


-- Chiang City News 2015-12-02

[JoePai]

Loy Kroh and Thapae area bars have been dead for years

[mamborobert]

Says something when you can have a handful turn up to protest when thousands may lose jobs/financial support directly and indirectly verses multi city protests about US ambassador criticising application of the law rather than the law itself.

Still a bigger crowd would have brought on bigger issues and not helped the good General view this plight in a favourable light.

A photo op of a crowd of Farang owners (no doubt with a associated visa work rights) would not have helped. Neither would a gaggle of ladyboys and bargirls/prospective pensioners helped in the cold light of day either, or bleary eyed patrons be they backpackers or retirees, sleep walking digital nomads, (could not be teachers as most only get paid on the day of the protest). Perhaps tehy could have organised a Chinese tour group to be there to help.

Problem is also that the Night Market is down as well to me as a casual observer, hotels seem less busy as well, and plane flights are less full. The bars may just be the canary in the coal mine....and in the current environment the local Chamber of Commerce etc may be a bit gun shy.

Maybe a long wait till the elections for the possibility of some change I guess...only bright light is that Thanom Kittikachorn did say there will be elections at earliest opportunity..

[LivinLOS]

Problem is also that the Night Market is down as well to me as a casual observer, hotels seem less busy as well, and plane flights are less full. The bars may just be the canary in the coal mine....and in the current environment the local Chamber of Commerce etc may be a bit gun shy.

Even if the general economy is down.. Currently they are being forced to pitch paying customers with money in their pockets, out into the street...

[Chicog]

There was a good article in the New York Times about the state of Thailand's economy the other day. But the local printer took it out before they went to the presses.

[khwaibah]

There was a good article in the New York Times about the state of Thailand's economy the other day. But the local printer took it out before they went to the presses.

Still out there. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/world/asia/thailand-economy-tourism.html?_r=1

[NongKhaiKid]

I didn't know 0200 was the standard closing time as, like so much else, it's very flexible depending on where you are and how connected the bar owner is.

[oneday]

NO, no, no can't have bars closing at 2am. Haven't you heard. Bars staying open that late is a direct cause of foreign ladies being raped.

[LivinLOS]

NO, no, no can't have bars closing at 2am. Haven't you heard. Bars staying open that late is a direct cause of foreign ladies being raped.

Unless of course they are 'not beautiful'..

[steveyinasia]

Thanks for the link, what a damming article, no wonder is was pulled from print.

There was a good article in the New York Times about the state of Thailand's economy the other day. But the local printer took it out before they went to the presses.

Still out there. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/world/asia/thailand-economy-tourism.html?_r=1

[Puwa]

Translation of signs in the photo, from left:

1) Please extend closing times

2) Stop taking bribes, stop selective enforcement

3)

4) We're not drug dealers, we don't use child labor, why do the police treat us like criminals?

[MobileContent]

Thanks for the link, what a damming article, no wonder is was pulled from print.

There was a good article in the New York Times about the state of Thailand's economy the other day. But the local printer took it out before they went to the presses.

Still out there. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/world/asia/thailand-economy-tourism.html?_r=1

The German Spiegel had two articles in the last one week which showed that the Bangkok economy is very much crashing. Many markets are closing down and Thais stopped spending money even on vegetables and fruits.

[slipperylobster]

As far as the bars around loi kroh...thats pretty much been dead.....for sure...

I would go once a week and see it for myself. The tourists would walk straight by the girlie bars, and end up at yellow zoe or warmup.

that was it. A few stray dogs and cats..mostly older yokles like me would be the only ones buying ladies drinks in those few girlie bars. I gave up myself, and started hanging out at yellow zoe...just to see people. As for the others....longer hours aren't going to bring in more people...perhaps a handful (enough to pay the salaries I suppose).... you just won't see them jam packed anymore...no matter how late they stay open.

Edited December 2, 2015 by slipperylobster

[alant]

I too would like to see a defined no nonsense ruling and 2am does seem like a reasonable compromise enabling such things as premiership games to be enjoyed in full.

[Chicog]

Ironically, as I posted in another thread, the UK found that drunk driving offences decreased in the UK with the relaxation of drinking hours.

The prime factor being that people who wanted to stay out a bit later would not have to drive to find somewhere open.

[Catoni]

As far as the bars around loi kroh...thats pretty much been dead.....for sure...

I would go once a week and see it for myself. The tourists would walk straight by the girlie bars, and end up at yellow zoe or warmup.

that was it. A few stray dogs and cats..mostly older yokles like me would be the only ones buying ladies drinks in those few girlie bars. I gave up myself, and started hanging out at yellow zoe...just to see people. As for the others....longer hours aren't going to bring in more people...perhaps a handful (enough to pay the salaries I suppose).... you just won't see them jam packed anymore...no matter how late they stay open.

Are the "Chiang Mai Entertainment Complex" bars and Muay Thai ring off of Loi Kroh still active around 8:00 p.m. ? ? I used to visit with Aoy and Tom and the rest there who ran Small World Bar there on the left as you walk through the complex.

The complex ran south off of Loi Kroh about 50 - 60 yards east of the Chaing Mai Saloon Sports Bar and Grill. On your right hand side if you are walking east towards the Chang Klan Road Night Market.

[kiwikeith]

As far as the bars around loi kroh...thats pretty much been dead.....for sure...

I would go once a week and see it for myself. The tourists would walk straight by the girlie bars, and end up at yellow zoe or warmup.

that was it. A few stray dogs and cats..mostly older yokles like me would be the only ones buying ladies drinks in those few girlie bars. I gave up myself, and started hanging out at yellow zoe...just to see people. As for the others....longer hours aren't going to bring in more people...perhaps a handful (enough to pay the salaries I suppose).... you just won't see them jam packed anymore...no matter how late they stay open.

But thousands of Chinese in town only frequenting Chinese /thai places, trying to screw down Tuk Tuk drivers fares.

Chinese won,t drink in Loi Kroh it has gone dead.

Many of the bars and restuarants are tired cockroach infested filth holes that the owners have spent zilch on over the years..

The influx of chinese put me off when I was there a few weeks ago ,they just walk over the top of you.

I used to live in Chiang Mai but moved to Hua HIn.

I did a Visa run a few weeks ago and spent a few days in Chiang Mai, the border town of Masai is dead with no bars at all now.

A freind of mine had a guest house there when I went to see him it was shut, a man minding it told me and showed me how he had changed it to Chinese style but now closed it down.

Johnie Bar was bulldozed.

Hundreds of Chinese were crossing the border that day there were so many passports in the little office on the burmese side waiting to be stamped that they were not processing them through computer just collecting the money then stamping and handing them back as quick as they could -- border security at face value!!!

[luke000]

As far as the bars around loi kroh...thats pretty much been dead.....for sure...

I would go once a week and see it for myself. The tourists would walk straight by the girlie bars, and end up at yellow zoe or warmup.

that was it. A few stray dogs and cats..mostly older yokles like me would be the only ones buying ladies drinks in those few girlie bars. I gave up myself, and started hanging out at yellow zoe...just to see people. As for the others....longer hours aren't going to bring in more people...perhaps a handful (enough to pay the salaries I suppose).... you just won't see them jam packed anymore...no matter how late they stay open.

Are the "Chiang Mai Entertainment Complex" bars and Muay Thai ring off of Loi Kroh still active around 8:00 p.m. ? ? I used to visit with Aoy and Tom and the rest there who ran Small World Bar there on the left as you walk through the complex.

The complex ran south off of Loi Kroh about 50 - 60 yards east of the Chaing Mai Saloon Sports Bar and Grill. On your right hand side if you are walking east towards the Chang Klan Road Night Market.

The Muy Thai complex is still there , although. like everywhere else, its very quiet .

The actual boxing ring and seven adjoining bars are for sale , as are numerous other bars in the complex , although some have been for sale for years

[LivinLOS]

The Muy Thai complex is still there , although. like everywhere else, its very quiet .

The actual boxing ring and seven adjoining bars are for sale , as are numerous other bars in the complex , although some have been for sale for years

I havent been here for the many years that some other posters have.. But have been visiting for 6 or so and living for 4..

I cant remember the back of the soi boxing ever being so bad.. I mean on Fri Sat nights.. Now entering high season and theres no one drinking in those back bars, just bar after bar with staff and not a punter. Sure the front ones are not exactly busy, but they do have a few in there.. But those back ones I dont know how they make rent..