Police round up 242 underage drinkers in crackdown on illegal Chiang Mai pub
As many as 242 youngsters were rounded up when a special operations team cracked down on an illegal pub in Chiang Mai early on Wednesday.
The crackdown, led by Chiang Mai governor Nirat Pongsitthavorn and Department of Provincial Administration inspector general Ronarong Tipsiri, also resulted in the transfer of the Chang Phueak Police Station chief. A disciplinary probe has also been ordered against four senior officers at the station.
The Halloween night raid on La Neuf pub was launched in response to complaints from locals.
Residents said the venue was very noisy late into the night and many underage people were seen entering the venue.
The operation, launched just after midnight, saw officers blocking all doors before entering the pub. There they found alcohol being served beyond legal hours and most patrons were under the drinking age of 20.
The youngsters were sent to the Chiang Mai Social Development Office to have their names recorded before being picked up by their parents.
Nirat said the pub operators did not have a licence and the venue was an illegally modified house with low ceilings and no fire exits. This venue has been used as a pub for three years, he said.
The governor added that he would instruct Muang Chiang Mai Municipality to shut down the venue indefinitely.
• Operating an entertainment venue without a licence
• Selling alcoholic drinks to persons under 18
• Selling alcoholic drinks to persons under 20
• Selling alcoholic drinks beyond legal operating hours
• Encouraging teenagers to behave improperly
• Advertising alcoholic drinks
• Modifying a building without permission from the local administration
After the raid, Chiang Mai police chief Pol Maj-General Thawatchai Pongwiwatanachai ordered that Chang Phueak police commander Pol Colonel Kittipong Phetmunee be shifted to an inactive post immediately.
He also ordered a disciplinary investigation against two deputy commanders of the police station – Pol Lt-Colonel Natthapol Ekkachan and Pol Lt-Colonel Supoj Chalad – and two inspectors – Pol Major Pirapol Kwakhong and Pol Major Amornthep Sukhan.
Thawatchai told reporters that the pub had been raided several times before, but it continued operating unlawfully.
He said many underage persons were able to enter the pub by showing doctored or fake ID cards at the door.
Thawatchai said the guards obviously did not look too closely or verify the cards they were shown.
He said the pub had been raided once before in 2020 and police had proposed it be ordered shut for five years. However, it was still operating.
This is not the first time Chang Phueak Police Station has been caught out.
On August 9, a special operations team from the department raided a huge gambling den in the subdistrict and arrested 104 gamblers.
The raid prompted the Chiang Mai police chief to suspend the police station chief and four top officers. All five had returned to their posts recently.
