midnight closing plan postponed

[Guest]

Bars can stay open until 2 a.m., for now

Interior Ministry?s midnight closing plan postponed again

 

PATTAYA: Not much has been heard lately about the Interior Ministry?s proposed midnight closing for entertainment venues. According to Anucha Mokka, MOI deputy permanent secretary, this is because the plan has once again been postponed.

 

The deputy secretary reiterated, however, that the plan is postponed, not forgotten, and that Pattaya?s entertainment venues should adhere to current rules and regulations or risk incurring the wrath of law enforcement or, worse yet, the Interior Ministry.

 

Apparently the MOI feels that local entertainment venues have been bending the laws of late, so the MOI sent the deputy secretary down to Pattaya to meet with law enforcement agencies, and provincial and local government officials at the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel on Monday, July 26. The province?s cafe, bar and massage parlor owners were also called in.

 

Deputy Secretary Anucha started by telling the meeting that he was here as part of the government?s effort to ease their concerns over proposed changes to the legislation. He assured them there would be no immediate changes to the laws proposed January 13, but he wanted to create a better level of understanding for all concerned, especially in enforcing the current regulations.

 

The focus is being put on the six ironclad social order rules:

 

1) All venues must have authorization to operate and are subject to inspection;

 

2) Patrons under 20 years of age are prohibited from entering during operating hours (staff over 18 are able to work in the establishments);

 

3) No narcotics or illegal mind altering substances are allowed on the premises;

 

4) Lewd or inappropriate entertainment is prohibited;

 

5) Strictly follow operating hours as classified in the legislation and in accordance with operating licenses; and

 

6) Weapons inside entertainment venues are strictly prohibited; this is applicable to members of the public and law enforcement agencies.

 

Penalties for infringement are set to range from imprisonment, increased fines and or cancellation of operating license and numerous other guidelines as well as tighter rules on closing venues that break the law, ranging from 30 days to permanent closure.

 

The increased entertainment venue license registration fees will remain in effect, with a new operators license set at 50,000 baht; Interim license 1,000 baht and License renewal 10,000 baht per year. Fees also take into account the type and size of venue under the amended legislation.

 

During the meeting government officers and business operators voiced their concerns over the lack of clarity in the legislation and as such the issue was discussed at length. For further understanding, a booklet outlining the legislation was handed out to all attendees.

 

-- Pattaya Mail 2004-07-30

 

HT