Governor clamps down on “bar beers”

PHUKET: In an effort to control beer bars, known locally as “bar beers”, Phuket Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi has ordered officers of Tambon Administration Organizations (OrBorTor) to reject building modification requests from such bars. At the regular provincial meeting between the Governor and chief officers of OrBorTor in Phuket Town this morning, Governor Pongpayome complained that bar beers were unsightly and that they set a bad example for young people. He said that owners of bar beers often ask the OrBorTor for permission to knock out the front wall of their buildings to create an open-air style. Disallowing this, he said, might be one way to slow down the curent proliferation of the establishments. He noted that most bar beers, particularly those in Kata and Karon, have big, open areas with scantily-clad hostesses, presenting a bad image to tourists and young people. “Pubs or discotheques look better than bar beers because they can at least close their doors,” the Governor added. “I feel very tired [when I think] about these investors who want to set up in the entertainment and bar beer businesses,” the Governor said. “But the problem is that there are no laws to limit these types of business, so they are difficult to control.” Gov Pongpayome also made a plea that anyone knowing of someone wanting to open a bar beer should try to persuade that person to look for another business to invest in.