Pubs, bars in only 3 zones in Bangkok can stay open till 4am: Chadchart
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will only extend operating hours for pubs and bars in three popular entertainment zones, the governor said.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Monday that entertainment venues will be allowed to stay open until 4am in the following areas:
• Silom and Patpong
• Royal Avenue and New Phetchaburi Road
• Ratchadapisek
The extension of the closing hours of nighttime entertainment venues in the three zones will kick off from December 15 in line with the prime minister’s policy.
In a bid to boost tourism, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin decided to extend the closing hours of entertainment venues in four tourism provinces, namely Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi and Phuket.
To enforce the policy, the government will have the Interior Ministry issue a directive, or the Cabinet issue a royal decree.
Chadchart said the new opening hours will only apply to venues that have received operating licences before the issuance of the directive or royal decree.
Sites should also have received their operating licences under Article 3 of the 1966 Place of Entertainment Act to be eligible to stay open until 4am, Pol General Adisorn Ngamjitsuksri, an advisor to the governor, said.
He added that pubs, bars and discotheques in other zones like Thonglor, will still have to close at 2am.
Adisorn added that Chadchart has instructed the BMA to be more careful when issuing new operating licences for entertainment places. He said the authorities may have to use artificial intelligence and algorithms to monitor the operations of entertainment venues.
