During this week’s Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul directed the interior permanent secretary and the Public Health Ministry to study abolishing zoning regulations for entertainment venues nationwide, according to a Cabinet source, reports the Bangkok Post.
At the meeting, discussions concerned outdated zoning rules for entertainment venues, which currently allow only those located in designated zones across five major locations -- Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chon Buri and Koh Samui ‒ to operate until 4am, noted the source.
In Bangkok, only pubs and bars located in permitted zones ‒ along Ratchadaphisek, Silom and Phetchaburi roads ‒ are allowed to stay open late.
Venues outside these areas must either hold an entertainment venue licence or be located in hotels to operate until 4am. However, in practice many places stay open illegally by bribing local officers.
The source said eliminating the zoning rule would encourage operators to register to extend their operating hours.
As a result, the state could collect more value-added tax, potentially amounting to several billion baht.
Authorities are also considering lifting the alcohol sales ban from 2-5pm, said the source.
Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Association, said very few pubs and bars on Khao San Road and in Bangkok hold entertainment venue licences, and new licences have not been issued for a long time.
He said most venues only hold licences to sell alcohol and food, which allow them to operate until midnight, even though many bars remain open into the early hours.
If the government plans to reset the entertainment venue licensing system, Mr Sanga said it could persuade illegal operators to register, enabling authorities to enforce more safety measures.
The association said the government should consider issuing different types of venue licences based on operating hours, such as licences allowing operation until midnight, 2am or 4am.
Mr Sanga said zoning regulations should not be completely abolished, as doing so could allow nightlife venues to open near residential areas and disturb local communities.
The government should maintain zoning rules, but expand them to include bustling tourism areas such as Khao San Road and parts of Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, as the city’s nightlife landscape has evolved, he said.
However, authorities should ensure adequate public transport and police presence to accommodate the growing number of nightlife visitors, Mr Sanga said.