Police closed Bangla at 02 am tonight

[Esco]

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

Both. Fed government outlined closing times from 12am -2 am based on various criteria. As K2 outlined, those closing times will be strictly enforced from time-to-time. Other times it's more relaxed. Hence my comment on rule of the day (vs. fixed laws) that is being enforced.

I reckon you're right.. Maybe the MIB in BKK felt that Thailand, and especially Phuket en Patts, were becoming sort of an anarchy at night

[Simbo]

Originally Posted by MajorTom

You are in Thailand now. Not the British army

I like to have the freedom to drink in a bar drink at nighttime. Not beeing forced to drink in the afternoon or evening. And i believe many others have the same preferation..

Anyway, wether its too early or not: Enforcing closing of everything at the same time is just boring and puts the nightlife down IMO.

WETF has this got to do with the Army. other than they are in control out here. Nobody forcing anyone to drink at anytime of the day- its personal choice. Its still more fun f*cking gone 2 am than pavement pizzas at 4am. Maybe I'm just boring but I'm still at the age where I still get a tingle in my loins and prefer shagging to puking.

Anyway I'm bored with this thread now- each to their own and I'm off for a shag.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Simbo

If supporting the police in enforcing the law of the land is negative what is deemed to be a positive? At least I have the courtesy to PM other BMs if I have issue with them. Like you said a forum is a place to discuss topics and give opinions. Sounds like censorship to me- isn't that how Hitler started. I feel stigmatised and oppressed now. Get over here, see the real picture and then add comment. there's far too much b*tching on the forum at the moment.

i think living there for a year gives you a pretty clear picture of a place

[LivinLOS]

2 post over 3 years ?!?!?

[Jack_Wow]

As with the low season (which seems to take everyone by surprise every year) bar closing times are a tedious irritation we have to put with on an almost annual basis. Here's what will happen.
After about a month tourists and expats will realise what is going on and start to go out earlier.

Smarter bar beer owners should be rubbiing their hands with glee as this is always good for them. Even smarter bar beer owners will be telling their 'hostesses' that the new start time is actually 7:30 pm and that they no longer turn up at ten, eat in the bar and then hang around 'dancing a bit' until the discos open whilst getting a salary and/or 'loom' from their bar beer.

The discos suffer big time whenever this happens and I feel sorry for them, but they get a good shake when the closing times are late so they really shouldn't complain too much.

It is obviously bad for tourism, but that has never bothered the circus that is the interior ministry too much in the past. (And no, this country would not be on its **** if it wasn't for tourism, its 5% of the GDP, they can do without it, new expats will now be enraged, deal with it, they do not need you, honest).

Crack downs like this are usually a sign of an impending election though, so expect an election within the next few months. Cracking down on percieved farang debauchery is a very popular vote winner amongst most of the electorate who don't live in Patong, Pattaya or Bangkok, but on farms, in the countryside. Following the election, everything will return to normal and the closing will creep back up, until the next election.

But then again I might be wrong.

[MrDK]

Nice post and I agree with you.
One of the reason that I like "another" location better is that I don't have to wait till 10PM to go out.
Giving it a decent few hours it will be 1 or 2 AM before one would even consider calling it a night.
For the hard core much later.
I would much rather get started with my evening as soon as the sun sets and be doing my bedloom exercise by midnight.

[Dupree00]

Originally Posted by Jack_Wow

It is obviously bad for tourism, but that has never bothered the circus that is the interior ministry too much in the past. (And no, this country would not be on its **** if it wasn't for tourism, its 5% of the GDP, they can do without it, new expats will now be enraged, deal with it, they do not need you, honest).

Does that include the new homes being built in Issan and sponsor money?


I wonder what percentage of Issan GDP is from Farangs.

[11]

Originally Posted by Jack_Wow

But then again I might be wrong.

Yes you are!

Apart from Bangla 'front' bars - other are resistant to opening earlier as staff can only work so many hours, and earlier opening has been tried and failed by 'smarter bar owners' and failed miserably by most. The 'hostesses' dont want to get up earlier as they ply the diso's FL after bar closing and stopping them eating when they so desire is downright ridiculous. BTW girls are supposed to be licensed to dance - even in bars - thats why the Bangla 'front' bars dont have gyrating girls (LB's get away with it in Soi Croc).

Early closing has little to do with impending elections, but down to i) new police chief/Govenor. ii) BKK police down (due to Royal/VIP visit/Summits etc).

As for your comment about farang crackdowns being a vote winner - utter bollox - (the farmers couldnt give a toss).

Thailand may like these exercises in social/moral control, and perhaps 7% toursim GDP doesnt matter, but the intelligensia in charge will be merely helping the economies of Philippines, Cambodia etc - som num na!

[marc26]

Originally Posted by MrDK

Nice post and I agree with you.
One of the reason that I like "another" location better is that I don't have to wait till 10PM to go out.
Giving it a decent few hours it will be 1 or 2 AM before one would even consider calling it a night.
For the hard core much later.
I would much rather get started with my evening as soon as the sun sets and be doing my bedloom exercise by midnight.

this is not a knock on you, so please dont take it that way
but when your only goal is not acquiring your pick of the night as soon as possible, the later the better

i always find that i am scrambling to get ready in time to make it out by 10pm, and that is usually to go to dinner then the bars
in the day, i like to drive around on the scooter, maybe a few beers late afternoon somewhere( and that is where i usually lose the time), usually small shopping at dusk and back to the hotel to rest up a bit

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by 11

Apart from Bangla 'front' bars - other are resistant to opening earlier as staff can only work so many hours, and earlier opening has been tried and failed by 'smarter bar owners' and failed miserably by most.

I appears to be working elsewhere.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by marc26

this is not a knock on you, so please dont take it that way
but when your only goal is not acquiring your pick of the night as soon as possible, the later the better

Didn't and wouldn't take it as such, but what is the difference between 8PM - 2AM vs. 10PM - 4AM. Either way it is 6 hours of party.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by MrDK

Didn't and wouldn't take it as such, but what is the difference between 8PM - 2AM vs. 10PM - 4AM. Either way it is 6 hours of party.

for me, i cant make it out by 8pm
i really like to enjoy my day and i am usually just winding down for a few drinks at 5-6pm, back to hotel at 8-830pm, relax for a minute and then out to dinner about 10pm
i dont get to the bars until 11pm

[11]

Originally Posted by MrDK

I appears to be working elsewhere.

Where?

Reason earlier opening doesnt work very well for BG type beer bars is that sweaty hot farangs are hardly appealing to the ultra odour consious Thai - so as the temperature drops - it makes it more tolerable for the average 'farang' to be comfortable sitting outside in what is a tropical climate.

Year's back bars did open earlier (but there were a lot less bars then) - as some still do, but there is not enough early custom from the shirtless types to make it viable for all to follow.

Girls too have become accustomed to working later, and many dont even wake up until late afternoon - this will not change simply because some moral crusader thinks we should be good boys and girls and go to bed at midnight - I'm certian that given a choice between a laid back vacation without all these daft restrictions many will not waste their hard earned cash to return.

[pablo]

Originally Posted by marc26

for me, i cant make it out by 8pm
i really like to enjoy my day and i am usually just winding down for a few drinks at 5-6pm, back to hotel at 8-830pm, relax for a minute and then out to dinner about 10pm
i dont get to the bars until 11pm

Yes, but aren't most of the "stunners" already cut from the herd and lassoed by then?

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Jack_Wow

It is obviously bad for tourism, but that has never bothered the circus that is the interior ministry too much in the past. (And no, this country would not be on its **** if it wasn't for tourism, its 5% of the GDP, they can do without it, new expats will now be enraged, deal with it, they do not need you, honest).

I had read 8% and thats direct foriegn excchange.. Not to be discounted lightly when exports (70% of GDP) also crashed almost 30% year on year.. However..

What %age of Phukets GDP is either directly tourism based or 2nd and 3rd line from it (the rental rates from Thais working in the tourism sector etc).. I would say tourism is >80% of phukets GDP, so a small move is massive news for Phuket, Thailand as a whole not withstanding.

[Robaht]

I'm not sure if it is relevant to Phuket bar closings, but the police in Bangkok shut everything down by 2am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Even the big late night spots that are allegedly owned by police...all closed at 2am.

[Crustasian]

Yet another old two year thread redux.

It would be better to start a new thread that is of current topical value.

[Nicke]

Its an old thread,

Its pretty much up to the bars when they want to close and I havent seen police for a long long time closing down the bars.

Lets continue with the thread if and when we are back to 02 am closing time.

[Blowie]

Originally Posted by Nicke

Its an old thread,

Its pretty much up to the bars when they want to close and I havent seen police for a long long time closing down the bars.

Lets continue with the thread if and when we are back to 02 am closing time.

indeed, been in Patong in may, and have been all nights past 2 am, more like 4 or 5 am. so lets close this topic and start the party !

[MassMoose]

Off topic, but I have been known to do that

Pattaya seems to start earlier than Patong and as a result I end up seeing more of the day when I stay there.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by 11

Where?Reason earlier opening doesnt work very well for BG type beer bars is that sweaty hot farangs are hardly appealing to the ultra odour consious Thai - so as the temperature drops

I think you know where. No need to make it a this vs that thread.Where I roam the most in LOS the main action starts at 8 pm and I am certain that the temperatures there is not much different from those in Phuket.

[Dodger]

Bars in Kamala open from 3pm, a lot have their happy hours from 3 to 8, they attract a good following from the afternoon/early doors brigade. My usual modus operandii is to go out a little later, about 7.30/8, eat then hit the bars, most bars in the village shut at 2am, we do have a couple of laties open until 4 or 5.

I point this out to say it is just a matter of conditioning, getting used to the norm. We have the same weatyher in Lala, the same girls all starting work from 2pm until 2 am everyday. But there again we do not get bar closures or changes to opening times everything stays about the same all the time.

This I think is the crux of the whole thread, it doesn't matter what the opening and closing times are as long as they stay fairly consistent, then we can all plan our drinking times to suit.

[JayBee]

All my life in the US, the bars have always closed at 2 AM. It's really no big deal.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by Dodger

This I think is the crux of the whole thread, it doesn't matter what the opening and closing times are as long as they stay fairly consistent, then we can all plan our drinking times to suit.

Agree but it is becoming more and more aparent that there may be some underlying bar girl union that could file a grevance should opening hours be any earlier than 10 pm.

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by MrDK

Agree but it is becoming more and more aparent that there may be some underlying bar girl union that could file a grevance should opening hours be any earlier than 10 pm.

I don't think that is so. Although in most Patong bars, the customary start time for the girls in 10 PM, in Patts many of the bars require the girls to start of 8 PM.

[Dodger]

Jaybee most girls where?? don't start until 10pm??? I reckon you've been away too long!!!

Bangla Road bars open from 2ish, second shift of girls come to work from 7.30pm, sois girls start from 8ish, MTB think the girls open up at 8.30, can't swear to that as never there that early, well except for Songkhran and wa salready a bit worse for wear!!

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Dodger

Jaybee most girls where?? don't start until 10pm??? I reckon you've been away too long!!!

Bangla Road bars open from 2ish, second shift of girls come to work from 7.30pm, sois girls start from 8ish, MTB think the girls open up at 8.30, can't swear to that as never there that early, well except for Songkhran and wa salready a bit worse for wear!!

Jaysus!! These bar owners have turned into real slave drivers!!

[Jack_Wow]

Once more it seems I was talking utter bollocks and I must thank 11 for letting everyone including myself know. I had assumed that the board was open for anyone to freely express any old opinions regardless of how shite they are, y'know, just to put them out there kinda thing.

My mistake and I humbly withdraw every comment I have ever made on the board as clearly I am a complete ****wit. I should leave this sort of thing to the real experts like 11, so sorry for wasting everyone's time.

[Captain]

Originally Posted by Jack_Wow

Once more it seems I was talking utter bollocks and I must thank 11 for letting everyone including myself know. I had assumed that the board was open for anyone to freely express any old opinions regardless of how shite they are, y'know, just to put them out there kinda thing.

My mistake and I humbly withdraw every comment I have ever made on the board as clearly I am a complete ****wit. I should leave this sort of thing to the real experts like 11, so sorry for wasting everyone's time.

??????????
Can't find anything wrong with the way 11 expressed his opinion. I suppose he can express it freely like you do.
Must say I tend more to his opinion. Bars may open earlier but personally I only visit them after dinner, so make that around 2200. Still enough time to fill up before going to bed.

[Dodger]

Originally Posted by Jack_Wow

Once more it seems I was talking utter bollocks and I must thank 11 for letting everyone including myself know. I had assumed that the board was open for anyone to freely express any old opinions regardless of how shite they are, y'know, just to put them out there kinda thing.

My mistake and I humbly withdraw every comment I have ever made on the board as clearly I am a complete ****wit. I should leave this sort of thing to the real experts like 11, so sorry for wasting everyone's time.

11 posted:

Early closing has little to do with impending elections, but down to i) new police chief/Govenor. ii) BKK police down (due to Royal/VIP visit/Summits etc).

As for your comment about farang crackdowns being a vote winner - utter bollox - (the farmers couldnt give a toss).

I've shown 11's post above, can't see whats actually wrong with what he posted, in fact I'd agree whole heartedly, but there again I'd agree after your very rude sarcastic post that your own analysis in bold, is probably also correct.

Just my opinion.

[stacwolf]

Originally Posted by Nicke

For the first time in years, police closed Bangla at 02:00 am tonight.

We will see if this is just a temporary thing when high police is here or if it is something that will last.

Bangla and Sansabai was very crowded at this time as all the bars closed same time.

hey nicke! is that u in the pix with the little girls? i cant help but to ask if you work or manage theDolphin Bar next to Absolute, striking resemblence. i love that bar as well. will be checking out MTB in Sept. just curious man, cheers, stac

[snowy]

You will be more of chance of meeting nicke at mtb than dolphin bar.

[LivinLOS]

Dolphin is John no ?? Lek in there one of my oldest platonic female friends round town.. Proper diamond.

[stacwolf]

Originally Posted by snowy

You will be more of chance of meeting nicke at mtb than dolphin bar.

ya i figured as much, just thought maybe he ran more than one place, how awesome would it be to live there

[tony70007000]

just been told that the 2am closing time will be enforce again for 7 days during the period of ASEAN meeting..

my guess is 3 days, then everything will be back to normal..