[Hasa Sas]

Nightspots forced to shut earlier

Midnight closing the general rule

Preeyanat Phanayanggoor Yuwadee Tunyasiri

Cabinet has ordered bars, clubs and other nightspots across the country to observe new closing times that would shut most of them down at midnight.

The decision, part of the government's morals campaign aimed at curbing crime and drug problems, is certain to cause an uproar among owners and workers at thousands of discos, karaoke halls, go-go bars and massage parlours.

The directive comes into force on March 1.

All nightspots outside specified nightlife zones will have to shut at midnight, while there will be some exemptions inside the zones, of which Bangkok has three _ Patpong area, Ratchadapisek road and Royal City Avenue (RCA).

Discos and hostess bars inside the zones will still be allowed to open until 2am, the current legal closing time for all establishments across the nation, while restaurants featuring musical performances have until 1am.

Sansanee Nakpong, deputy government spokesman, said night entertainment venues with music and alcoholic drinks as well as karaoke would open from 6pm and close at 1am for those in the zones, and at midnight for those outside the zones.

At present only four provinces _ Chiang Mai, Uttaradit, Samut Prakan and Lamphun _ have not yet been subjected to zoning and all entertainment places may stay open until 2 am. Once the zoning is completed in these provinces they will have to observe the new opening hours.

Ms Sansanee said the new opening time for massage parlours in entertainment zones has been changed from noon to 4pm. Those outside the zones would open even later, at 6pm. Both will have to close at midnight. The new operating time does not affect spa and traditional massage parlours, however.

Discotheques and other dancing entertainment places are allowed to operate until 2am for those within the zones, but those outside them will have to close at midnight.

Pracha Maleenond, the deputy interior minister, said 24-hour khaotom (congee) foodshops would not be affected because they were not classified as nighteries, but as restaurants. They must however obey the Public Health Ministry's ban on smoking inside their shops.

Mr Pracha said he was worried the different opening and closing times would not be fair to every business operator and they might file lawsuits against the government. He personally preferred the same opening and closing times for all nightspots because it would be easier to control and regulate, but the Interior Ministry had no problems implementing the new order.

Mr Pracha said with the new complex opening and closing times, authorities would need to remember which venues opened and closed at what time.

Cabinet last month rejected the Interior Ministry's proposal for earlier closing times, saying the move would affect thousands of people.

The nightlife crackdown which began in August 2001 under the stewardship of Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piemsombun, ended the free-wheeling ways of Bangkok's bars and clubs, which used to shut at dawn. Despite grumbles from club owners, the initiative was firmly backed by most members of the public.