Thailand’s nightlife gets green light: Entertainment venues now open until 6am

The Interior Ministry today gave the green light for entertainment venues across Thailand to remain open until 6am in a move to bolster tourism and add extra sparkle to new year celebrations.

Interior Ministry Spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said the temporary extension of the closing time at entertainment venues across Thailand was aimed at promoting tourism and new year celebrations. Traisuree added it would be formally announced in a new ministerial regulation on opening hours.

From this Friday, December 15, entertainment venues in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Koh Samui (in Surat Thani province) and Phuket, along with such venues in registered hotels nationwide, will be regularly able to stay open until 4am, said Traisuree.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had already signed the new regulation, which would soon be published in the Royal Gazette, she said, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, a new mandate from the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee of Thailand stipulated that entertainment venues intending to remain open till 4am must establish sobering-up zones.

This initiative aims to deter patrons from driving under the influence of alcohol. The directive, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, was declared on December 9.

Following the committee’s meeting, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Santi Promphat, relayed the announcement and emphasised that bars and nightclubs must adhere strictly to the rules and regulations when they are permitted to operate until 4am, starting from December 15. The objective is to ensure the safety of patrons and diminish the occurrence of alcohol-related incidents. Read more about the story HERE.

Meanwhile, a prominent nightclub was raided by a team led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, today for violating the law by operating beyond the legal hours and allowing drug use on premises.

The operation carried out at 2.20am, was also joined by Ansit Samphantharat, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, Ronnarong Thipsiri, Inspector-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, Police Major General Wichai Narong, Deputy Commander of Division 4, Police Major General Setthaphan Srisakorn, Commander of Chokchai Police Station, and Suwanna Wongwanich, Chief of the News Analysis and Monitoring Section. Read more about the story HERE.