Thai Alcohol Control Committee opposes selling booze till 4 AM

The Thai Alcohol Control Committee opposed a proposal to extend the legal hours for selling alcoholic beverages to 4 AM, citing a potential rise in traffic accidents.
Dr. Opas Karnkawinongpop, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, revealed to Thai reporters today, November 25th, after completing a meeting with the Alcohol Control Committee that the committee initially opposed the idea of allowing the sale of alcohol from 5 PM to 4 AM.

The committee said it was too long because it meant alcohol could be sold for 11 hours per day, which could increase alcohol-related health problems, injuries, and casualties.

Dr. Opas stated the chance of drunk-driving-related accidents could also rise by more than 27% or 10-20 casualties per day if alcohol was allowed to be sold from 5 PM to 4 AM despite all-night police checkpoints.

The Thai Alcohol Control Committee had already considered the economic benefits of the proposal, but still had agreed that the extension should not be mandated, Dr. Opas added.

Nonetheless, the committee’s objection was only a suggestion, which would be forwarded to the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee for consideration on December 22nd.

Dr. Opas said the objection against extending alcohol sale hours had nothing to do with another proposal to extend the legal closing hours for entertainment venues.

Technically, the two rules are seperate notes TPN media, and even if the Thai Cabinet agrees to extend nightlife closing hours in theory alcohol sales hours would also need to be legally extended.

The Thai Cabinet is set to meet Tuesday, November 29th, to discuss extended nightlife hours in tourism zones.

Source - Pattaya News

YOUR AFFILIATE / REFERRAL LINK HERE
 

Nightclub goers tested positive for drugs in #Pattaya entertainment venue crackdown, passport inspections for foreigners to continue

Pattaya – Four nightclub goers tested positive for drugs in a Pattaya entertainment venue crackdown.

More than 50 officers led by Major General Nantawut Suwanlaong, Acting head of the Chonburi Provincial Police randomly inspected entertainment venues in Pattaya to check for the current seven major rules which are:

1. No allowing underage users below 20 to enter bar and entertainment venues.

2. No selling alcohol to underage users below 20 in any venues including restaurants.

3. Entertainment venues must be shut and all customers gone by legal closing times, currently between midnight to 2AM depending on zone.

4. Selling alcohol over the legal time is prohibited at all venues.

5. Allowing weapons and illegal drugs into entertainment venues is prohibited

6. Allowing human trafficking in entertainment venues is prohibited.

6 Allowing illegal gambling in any venue is prohibited.

Major General Nantawut told the Pattaya News that they first inspected ‘New Season’ on Pattaya Third Road where lots of Thais and foreigners were drinking. Some of the foreigners were unable to present their passports and they were taken to the Pattaya Police Station for questioning.

Source - The Pattaya News 

YOUR AFFILIATE LINK HERE

#Thailand - More easing of lockdown to be announced on Monday

The government is finalizing further relaxations in lockdown measures and will make the announcement on Monday, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said on Friday (June 26).

He said that there are five matters to be finalised on June 29, as people await further relaxations in the fifth phase for pubs, bars, entertainment venues, and massage parlours.

.

.

Among the likely decisions are:

▪︎Limited entry into the country for foreigners, though allowing tourists under travel bubble agreements has been postponed to August;

▪︎Extension of the state of emergency;

▪︎School opening confirmation for the minority children on the border;

▪︎Easing the one-metre social distancing measure in public transport to at least one-foot distance and compulsory wearing of masks by passengers throughout the journey.

As Thailand reached 32 days without a domestic case, Dr Taweesin warned against complacency, citing the example of China which once did not have any cases for 52 consecutive days before being jolted by an outbreak last week. New Zealand also has reported new cases recently.

Source - Pataya One News

#Thailand - Major makeover proposed for Pattaya’s Walking Street

.

Thailand - Major makeover proposed for Pattaya’s Walking Street

… but few are impressed. Images on the Facebook page of Pattaya City reveal plans for a major re-imagining and makeover of one of the resort’s most notable, and notorious, landmarks – Walking Street. Gone are the grotty road, broken pavements and lurid signs and frontages, and in their place will be an easy to navigate walking area fit for families.

Problem is the tourists and traffic Walking Street has attracted in the past are likely not interested in the swish makeover and quite liked the red light atmosphere and the bar girls in hot pants leaning out of the noisy bars.

But the Thai government has seemed fixated on cleaning up the streets’ reputation for years, with little success. Now, the futuristic design and slick new look make the red light district look like just another shopping street. Online critics are already jumping on the bandwagon saying it will be “just another mall.”

“There is not a hanging wire – or streetwalker – in sight!” one complained. Where are the tangled coils of telephone and power cables? Where are the neon signs with at least one letter not working? Where will the crusty old expats end up if they’re pushed out of Walking Street?

The designs were presented by the city’s engineering team to Pattaya’s mayor and his deputies yesterday, to an apparently “lukewarm” reception.

.

.

The mayor remarked that Walking Street has to be “fit for purpose” and any revamp “must not adversely affect livelihoods. Though he seemed to agree that the area must be fit for daytime as well as nightlife use, he stressed that any makeover must ensure that the “special smell and flavour” of Walking Street are maintained. Oh yes, THAT smell.

“After all, Pattaya is a renowned world class resort. And it must be able to generate revenue, that’s important.”

He sent the engineers away to revise their designs ahead of the next discussion on the issue.

Thai and foreign comments on the news were extensive and mixed. Most agreed that it’s time for a makeover, but opinion differed widely over exactly how and how much.

The reality for the city is that the Walking Street occupies prime real estate and the owners of the land want to maximise the potential value of retail and food and beverage offerings, and would prefer that it had a broader appeal beyond its raunchy nighttime-only activities. It’s inevitable that the red-light district will move into lower-rent areas of the city.
.

Source - ThaiVisa / The Thaiger

Thailand - Cafes and restaurants ordered to store customer wi-fi data for 90 days

The Thai Minister of Digital Economy Puttipong Punnakan says cafe and restaurant operators offering free wifi services, will have to collect internet traffic data used by their customers up to 90 days, or face punishment. The report didn’t specify if they wanted to simply track usage data or track the actual traffic and sites visited.

According to Khaosod English, the Minister claims the backlog is necessary “in case the wifi was used in criminal actions”.

At a news conference held yesterday Puttipong said “Shops and cafes that offer wifi services must collect internet traffic information for 90 days, so in case there is anything, officials may need to request for the information under Article 26 of the Computer Crimes Act,” according to the Khaosod English report.

 He referred to a section in the revised cybercrime laws requiring internet providers to store a backlog of users’ internet usage up to three months.

“Those who do not comply will face punishment in accordance with the law.”

The Minister was previously an NCPO government spokesperson before resigning last February to run in the election under the Palang Pracharat Party.

Source - The Thaiger / Kaosod

Bars and clubs in #Thailand open until 4.00am? Not everyone is in favour

Some academics oppose the Tourism and Sports Minister’s idea to allow entertainment venues to remain open until 4.00am.

Udomsak Saengow of the Centre for Alcohol Studies is one of those suggesting that more research is needed before such a move.

“Civic groups have worked hard to limit access to alcohol and they succeeded in lobbying for shortening the closing times from 4am to 2am. When opening times are extended, drinking hours are also extended. The more people drink, the less they can control themselves.”

But Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn argues that extended opening hours would boost the economy and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) agrees.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn says extending opening times would increase spending, particularly when some foreign visitors find that a closing time of 2.00am is too early. He also stresses that the new opening hours would not apply everywhere.

“The 4am closing time would be restricted to destinations which mainly cater to foreign visitors.”

But coordinator of Alcohol Watch Network, Chuwit Chantaros, disagrees that the move would help the economy, arguing that it may lead to an increase in injuries or deaths among drunk tourists. Such an increase would only end up costing businesses.

“We have research findings showing that we lose 2 baht for every one baht we gain because of property losses as well as deaths and injuries which cause further material losses. If the operating hours are extended, more losses are anticipated.”

But Weerawich Kruasombat, head of the Patong entertainment business operators’ union, is in favour of the move.

“For years, we have been pushing for extended closing times in the Patong and Bang La areas. These districts currently generate 20-30 million baht in income per night and the extra two hours will boost income by 30%-40%.”

The debate rages on, with interested parties in the relevant tourist areas planning to meet with the TAT to discuss the matter further.

Source - The Thaiger