New Zoning/Early Closure Thread

[Guest]

We seem to be mostly in agreement.

 

Just a comment on the difference between Patpong and Nana.

 

Patpong is of course an internationally known institution, something like the famous red light districts in other major cities. NanaPlaza never did achieve that reputation. PP does attract foreign couples as well, but not to many of them around Nana.

Problem with Nana is that it spilled out into the soi. With the Nana and Raja hotels nearby, the first or so 200 meters are like a 24 hours red light street. Quite a number of Thai families pass that street frequently and notice what's going on.

This is not the case for Patpong. One doesn't really notice Patpong when on Silom or on Surawong.

 

The police get commission from tickets written, so they're getting more agressive trying to write as many as possible.

The ones at the 13 Baht toll plaza past the airport have become husslers tohugh. I've stopped for driving too fast, driving too slow and driving the correct speed. Next time I'll get out and ask to see the ranking officer at that spot what it is all about. Never paid a fine or anything else though.

[Guest]

Anybody hear anything?

 

 

http://nationmultimedia.com/page.arcview.php3?clid=3&id=93669&usrsess=1

 

 

Review of zoning draft tomorrow

 

 

 

Published on Feb 16, 2004

 

 

 

The Cabinet is scheduled to review draft legislation on closing times and entertainment zones tomorrow. The result will determine whether the authorities will be able to enforce a midnight-closing rule on all entertainment venues outside designated zones starting March 1.

 

"We will have to stick to the old rule until the ministerial regulation on entertainment zones comes into effect," Local Administration Department's director-general Prasart Pongsiwapai said yesterday.

 

The current rule allows entertainment venues to remain open till 2 am, depending on their type of services. Nightclubs can operate until 2 am, discotheques until 1 am, and lounges, bars and massage parlours until midnight.

 

"We will wait and see how the draft will come out," Presart said.

 

The midnight closing time, which is scheduled to take effect on March 1, will require all entertainment venues outside "designated zones" to shut their doors by midnight

 

Venues in the designated zones will get two more operating hours.

 

However, the enforcement of the new rule will be possible only after the entertainment-zoning draft legislation becomes law.

 

The draft, if approved, will regulate the designated zones. It is being prepared by Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsombun and has already won approval from Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

 

Meanwhile, massage-parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit urged the government to rezone entertainment areas and award more operating hours to tourist zones.

 

"Areas with large number of tourists like Patpong and Sukhumvit should be allowed to remain open till 3 am," he said. He recommended that the number of tourists in an area should be a major factor in determining at what time places must close.

 

However, even in areas with a light concentration of tourists, Chuwit called for a 1am closing time.

 

Chuwit planned to submit his proposals to the Office of the Prime Minister tomorrow.

 

Benjawan Somsin

 

THE NATION

[jxxxl]

Gad,

 

Interesting point about the street crime and very logical. If you are right, and I hope your're not, once this kind of behavior takes root, it probably won't diminish even if the rules relax. But I wholeheartedly agree the rules stick, there will be huge numbers of young people out of work looking for a way to make ends meet. I've been to many Thai-oriented clubs with my wife and these places are huge and employ hundreds of people (each). I don't think these people will be happy working on a rice farm.

 

One thing I do know is that Thais like to go out on the piss, especially the young affuent ones in Bangkok. If I were Thai, I would be outraged with this legislation. If this is aimed at foreigners, I guess the Thai govt has a right to get rid of the 'less desirable' aspects of the nightlife (althought I don't agree with it) but this is spilling over into the Thai population.

 

I just can't see this legislation being sustainable. I think the govt. hast taken an extreme position to set expectations (among Thais and foreigners) and will make a compromise that leaves Thai oriented places as-is while severly limiting most of the 'less desirable' nightlife.

[Guest]

really don't feel it will and like I said I'm betting on it. Feeling confident but with trepidation.

You know my views on the risks and problems these new rules will create so I won't repeat them, except to say that you are a braver man than I. Personally I would wait to see how these regulations are implimented before I invested a single satang in a restaurant or any other business in the lower part of Sukhumvit, but then its not my nickel.

 

I am not going to the social networking night tomorrow night. And if I give too many details about where I am going and when, and the wrong people are watching this site, it won't be too difficult to figure out who I am. I may go to the Monthly Membership Lunch where Khun Abhisit Vejjajiva of the opposition party will speak. I am confident there will be several hundred members going to that function.

[Guest]

PP does attract foreign couples as well, but not to many of them around Nana.

Problem with Nana is that it spilled out into the soi. With the Nana and Raja hotels nearby, the first or so 200 meters are like a 24 hours red light street. Quite a number of Thai families pass that street frequently and notice what's going on.

"the first or so 200 meters are like a 24 hours red light street" - that's part of its charm. I see your point, however. Ratchadisek and a good part of Petchburi also seem like red light districts, albeit more upscale versions. I still think a compromise could be reached where the bars on the Soi are required to spruce themselves up, and a more targetted zoning law could accomplish exactly that.

 

Soi Cowboy seems to be equally visible or perhaps even a little less visible than Patpong. I am not including the shotgun shack bars on the corner of Asoke and Sukhumvit which even I consider an eyesore.

The police get commission from tickets written, so they're getting more agressive trying to write as many as possible.

Yes, and backhander commissions as well. I am glad to see that I am not only one who thinks they are getting more aggressive.

[Guest]

I just can't see this legislation being sustainable.

I agree. When you get outside the Farang districts, and travel around Bangkok at night - as I did tonight on the way back from a meeting - you see hundreds of bars and pubs. It is hard to imagine the authorities limiting these places to 9 pm until midnight. But it is easy to imagine massive payoffs and more corruption to evade such unrealistic restrictions.

[pro2000]

just got off the phone to a friend who works in nep shes been told they can open as usual they just have to close at midnight (music off) anybody heard this as well

[christo23]

While I´m by no means an expert, and I don´t know anything about the reliability of the source that kind of solution wouldn´t be surprising, but ypu never know....

[Guest]

two weeks and counting. ....we shall soon how this is enforced.

[Guest]

Last night I chatted with a friend who works parttime at 5*, Soi Cowboy. Right now she's at school and not working. But she said a friend who is currently working was told by the mamasan that it is possible that the bar will open 4 p.m. to midnight...and that the bar is actively recruiting additional/new talent. The friend readily agreed that nobody really knows how things will shake out...could be biz as usual for a while.