Phuket
Police crackdown angers bar owners

PHUKET: Angry bar owners have threatened to stage a “mob” if police do not ease the enforcement of the 2 am legal closing time for entertainment establishments. One bar owner told the Gazette, “Take a look around Patong at 3 or 4 am. People are out in the streets drinking beer and whisky they buy at 7-11, fighting, or looking for somewhere to sit, relax, and socialize. “If the powers that be are interested in killing off the tourism business in Phuket, they are doing a great job.” The crackdown across Phuket, which started on April 10, is part of a nationwide campaign to ensure entertainment venues do not stay open after 2 am, that they do not employ people under 18 years old, and that customers are at least 20 years old. Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, superintendent of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that he had received many complaints, along with threats that bar owners would stage a “mob” against the crackdown. “The [bar] owners have pointed out that they have to pay high rents and other costs, and that the restriction on opening hours cuts down the number of customers. “But there is nothing I can do about this. It is the law that entertainment places may not stay open later than 2 am. It’s my duty to see that the law is enforced,” he said.
Get more from The Thaiger
Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.
Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.
Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

-
Pattaya2 days ago
Foreign sex pest caught assaulting Thai beauty contestant
-
Business1 day ago
Thai Airways has sold 11 of its old aircraft, 26 to go
-
Crime1 day ago
More than 100 foreigners in Phuket swindled by visa agency
-
Crime3 days ago
Thai man jailed for rape in London massage parlour
-
Coronavirus (Covid-19)1 day ago
Thai health chief received special drug due to obesity, not privilege
-
Coronavirus (Covid-19)3 days ago
Thailand to be “post pandemic” this week, not endemic
-
Patong10 hours ago
19 year old Australian falls to his death at a Phuket hotel
-
360 Reviews7 hours ago
The best honeymoon resorts in Phuket for 2022
You must be logged in to post a comment Login