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U-turn on Thailand’s midnight closure ruling
Ministers in Thailand have u-turned on a proposed law that was threatening to cause havoc for the country’s tourist industry. As reported, entertainment venues across the country – except those in designated nightlife zones – were due to have to close at midnight as from this week. But, after complaints from bar, restaurant and nightclub owners, as well as concern from police, who say they have had no instructions on how to uphold the new laws, cabinet ministers reportedly changed their minds. Now, venues will be able to stick to their existing opening hours this month, but those outside the designated zones will be forced to close at 1am from 1 April. Even after the about-turn, there is still confusion over how the laws will be policed: the Daily Telegraph reports: “To follow the letter of the law, patrons of sophisticated cocktail lounges in five-star hotels would have been forced to frequent downmarket red-light areas after hours.” Thailand’s deputy interior minister Pracha Maleenont reportedly said: “This measure can be considered a compromise. This decision comes halfway between what is wanted by operators and law enforcers.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
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