Thailand closes at midnight tonight

John says:

I think even the little street restaurants are to be prevented trading. I had an email a week ago from a Thai guy I got to know well and who works one of these restaurants on Sukhumvit. He was very worried because they were to be stopped trading on March 1st. He has no other means of income. I am afraid lots of people are going to have no way to earn money after today. I fear that an increase in street crime is almost inevitable. What else can they do but starve queitly?

Ben says:

Sex tourists beneficiaries? No more bar fines? Thank you Buddah! I'm booking my flight now!

mr peter says:

As long as the cafes can open past 12 I think early closing is to be welcomed. Sukhumvit is becoming more and more of an embarassment like that shit hole Pattaya, and if the clock gets turned back to how it looked a few years ago this will be an improvement. Who wants to see drunken falangs still staggering about sukhumvit at 6 am? What's wrong with Ratchadapisek anyhow, plenty of entertainment to be had there.-peter

cochon says:

Such a shame and your artical is spot on. Do these political figures own bars in Patpong and else where? On my last visit to the Patpong night market it appeared that the bars were being repleced by shops. May be they want to redirect the tourist back to their own businesses?

Anonymous says:

Don't tarnish everyone with the same brush. Yes there may be a few drunks still on Sukhumvit Road in the early mornings, but what about the other 99.8% of farangs who are back in their hotel or home way before then.

What gets me is the expats who write in saying "I think the early closing is a good idea". They have probably been there for awhile, they've had their fun in the bars and now they are probably settling down with their Thai girl. If the tables were turned and this was 5 years ago, they would be kicking off just like we are now.

The bar areas are only a small part of Bangkok. People come to London, but that doesn't mean that they have to go into Soho. People go to Amsterdam, but it doesn't mean they have to visit the infamous red light district. If you don't like these areas then just stay away from them. Plain and simple.

Allowing Patpong to stay open until 2am, but having Soi Cowboy and NEP close at 12am? Something fishy going on here.

I can't see what this early closing is achieving other than putting many Thai's out of work. Its not going to fool the world into thinking that Thailand has cleaned up its act. Sukhumvit will turn into a huge open air brothel. Hopefully the government will see sense, however this would mean losing face, so i guess it is out of the question.

mr peter says:

Drunks and sex tourists do not like it of course but the majority of thai's are in favour, and it is their country after all. As far as sukhumvit goes when it was just a few places like NEP, SC, BG7 and thermae it was not so visible. Now there are so many bars and even a no hands restaurant. It's just all too much out in the open IMO. Amazing that though the zone policy has been known about for a couple of years people have continued to open up bars in the sukhumvit area. True the rachada area is very developed but it's far more up market, far more thai, and far more thai owned. They are not trying to kill nightlife, just control it and it's better late than never.-peter

john says:

Mr. Peter obviously wants the earlier closure, but he is wrong about the cafes opening after 12, because they are being shut also. He mentions "far more thai, and far more thai owned" so we know he is on the government's wavelength - close down farang owned bars, and when they are empty, change the laws, and allow them to open again under Thai ownership. What about Sukhumvit after NEP. Cowboy etc. close at 12? Has he ever seen so many prostitutes walking the streets? Does he think that is better than a few drunk farangs in the early morning?

john says:

" sex tourists do not like it"????

They love it you fool. All the ladies free at 12. No bar fines. Fantastic for sex tourists.

What is this government aiming at if not the breaking of farang owned businesses?

Anybody with half a brain can see the consequences, but the rich Thais care not for the poor Thais losing their livelihood.

Their attitude is obviuosly "fuck our Thai brothers who will be destitute, lets break the farang bars, and when they are empty we can take them over, and make even more money. We don't give a shit if loads of our countrymen suffer in the process, we are the most important and fuck everybody else"

Selfish Munt says:

I'm not too concerned about the early closing hours. I've had a a totally hedonistic and selfish time for years and now the CEO Nanny in Chief is going take care of my liver and my wallet, just as I feel the shade of bar girl ennui settle upon me.

Sorry chaps if you've got here too late. But I was selfish years ago and I'm selfish now too.

Toodle Pip

Kuhn Stan says:

It is amazing how everyone hates change!!Prostitution will not go away,it will just evolve into a different ''style''!!As far as the business owners are concerned,Well if you are stupid enough to try and own a business in Thailand,Lesson learned!!
Go with the flow,more changes will definitely evolve.The more control The gov't exerts,the faster the changes.But they survive on their corruption,SO,they will only succeed in changing the ''style''.They will not accomplish their stated goals any more in this situation than they have in any other of their "programs''!

John Holmes says:

You're all invited round my place

Anonymous says:

Reporting on bar time closures is just plain stupid until after they take effect. After all this has been in the works for years and ....... zzzZZZzzz just a bunch of people complaining about what so far has been nothing