Purachai keeps on trucking

[kao_boy]

The nation September 2, 2001

Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun, crusading for his "new social order", has drafted new legislation to broaden his mandate to regulate all types of late-night entertainment places and increase licensing fees.

The draft bill, designed to amend the 1966 Entertainment Places Act, has been submitted for Cabinet approval, although the Cabinet Secretariat Office has yet to assign it on the agenda docket.

A key provision would authorise the interior minister to issue a ministerial regulation designating as many types of night businesses as deemed necessary to fall under his jurisdiction.

Currently, the Interior Ministry has the jurisdiction to regulate four types of entertainment places:

lVenues for dancing, ramwong and rongngeng that exclude the services of female partners

lEating or entertainment venues that serve alcoholic beverages and offer the services of female partners inclusive of customers' accommodation facilities

lMassage, bathing and sauna parlours

lEating and entertainment venues that serve alcoholic beverages and provide musical or stage performances

The law, if amended, would empower Purachai to regulate restaurants, somtam vendors, khaotom shops and karaoke stalls.

Other draft amendments included a mandatory check of identification cards for all customers at entertainment places that ban people under 20 and penalties for proprietors that condone illicit drugs.

In regard to licensing fees, Purachai complained that night entertainment places paid a minimal fee despite their high earnings.

Under the draft bill, fees for regulated night businesses would vault to Bt50,000 from Bt1,000. Other proposals include a Bt10,000 fee for annual licence renewal.