Walking Street?s extension to 3 a.m.

[AhTeckLim]

Another reason to head straight to Pattaya!

 

http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=1447

 

Walking Street?s extension to 3 a.m.

 

City Hall has announced that the centre of Pattaya?s entertainment district, The Walking Street, is to be allowed to sell and serve alcohol in bars and clubs until 3 a.m. The discretion lasts until the end of the current high season which has not yet been formally defined, but is certainly months away.

 

Mr Wirawat Kharkai, deputy mayor, chaired a meeting which included representatives of the business operators in Walking Street which is sometimes seen as a special zone because of its long established identity, proximity to the sea and adequate policing measures. He said that, for the foreseeable future, the Walking Street would be able to operate without licensing restrictions at night between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. The area includes the main street from the entrance, at the corner of Third Road, until the Bali Hai restaurant and the Siam Bayshore Hotel. Mr Wirawat stated that the local authority administration was confident that the extension would increase business and enhance profits, but stressed that the discretion would last only until the end of the current high season, to be announced in due course. He agreed that Pattaya was still based on foreign and domestic tourism and accepted that people did not like to be told when to go home to their hotels. The news was greeted with enthusiasm by many nitery proprietors in the area, although some stated that their staff had got used to leaving work earlier and returning to their families well before dawn. Bar and night club owners who do not occupy premises in the Walking Street said the ruling ought to have applied to them as well, although some accepted that a pilot scheme for a limited period could be the precursor of greater latitude all round. Police emphasised that they would be checking to ensure that the 3 a.m. deadline did not drag its feet until the sun came up. The first Thaksin government introduced its social order campaign in 2001 and early closing of bars and entertainment spots was justified on the grounds of needing to protect youth, reduce crime and control anti-social behaviour. There was initially much talk of zoning in the resort but, in fact, a standard closing time of 1 a.m. was announced throughout Naklua, Pattaya and Jomtien. Since then, there has been some movement nationally. For instance, the restrictions have been more heavily enforced in Chiang Mai than in Phuket. City Hall officers and senior police officials have also announced that New Year?s Eve will be a special night all over town and people can enjoy themselves, whatever their location, without licensing restrictions to welcome in the new year and have a great time until dawn, if they wish. The Bali Hai pier will be the centre of the public festivities with a musical countdown and a huge rocket display of 2,006 big bangs which will last for half an hour. But police issued their warnings to people not to drink and drive and confirmed that breathalyser units would be waiting round some corners looking for tell-tale signs of woozy behaviour behind the wheel.

[TheFiend]

Hope this runs in to the middle of June :hubba:

 

PLEASE LET THIS RUN UNTIL JUNE

 

Angelwitch GoGo come to Pattaya... now 3am bozzing.... gets better every day

[ALHOLK]

Hi!

 

It is my experiance that the middle of June is the lowest of the low season so probably not.

 

regards

 

ALHOLK