Why everything is closing early and Bangkok nightlife may never be the same

[sandrew33]

29 minutes ago, lucjoker said:

this side is also famous for older people who have the means to stay here and raise

a family, for people who dont have to show off or have to impress young ladies.

Normal people who like to sleep on normal hours.

So not only for tourists,acting as successful  , witch have to save up a year to spend it here in a few weeks and go home 

poor as they were .

Lets see how many likes this gets?

 

 

Hahaha.. Mate, I live here and support myself and my family. Although I don't do it on a pension. I also work and occasionally like to go out. The two are not incompatible. The issue I was addressing, which you've beautifully underscored, is the smug sanctimonious old (of mind) lifers who give many farangs a bad name, love to moan, and think their shit doesn't stink. How are you remotely impacted by bars staying open 2 hours later? You simply aren't. And if you really knew anything about Thailand and Thais you'd understand that in Bangkok most of these impacted bars & clubs are heavily used by Thai, many of whom finish work lateish, have a long commute home and can't actually get out until 10ish, so midnight closing is killer for them. 

 

But hey, you keep lecturing the rest of us who haven't become that crusty old bastard who knows it all. Sure. 

 

Cheers 

[Thaidream]

The Central Government is run by the military and the powers that be do not like late hours and want the law enforced.  It is all part of the plan to gentrify Bangkok and also places like Pattaya and Phuket.  There are areas that have license to stay open later until 2 AM. However, the government will not issue these type anymore so as to drive the places like Cowboy and Nana to extinction.

What will eventually happen is most of these places that have 'trade' will move further away from Bangkok. The old days of a free wheeling Thailand are gone and won't be back for quite some time if ever.  Single Western tourists will go elsewhere and that is what the government wants. Thailand can make more money off the Chinese and other well to do Asians such as the Japanese; Malaysians and Singaporeans.

Whether all this is good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.

[lucjoker]

3 minutes ago, sandrew33 said:

 

Hahaha.. Mate, I live here and support myself and my family. Although I don't do it on a pension. I also work and occasionally like to go out. The two are not incompatible. The issue I was addressing, which you've beautifully underscored, is the smug sanctimonious old (of mind) lifers who give many farangs a bad name, love to moan, and think their shit doesn't stink. How are you remotely impacted by bars staying open 2 hours later? Your simply aren't. And if you really knew anything about Thailand and Thais you'd understand that in Bangkok most of these impacted bars & clubs are heavily used by Thai, many of whom finish work lateish, have a long commute home and can't actually get out until 10ish, so midnight closing is killer for them. 

 

But hey, you keep lecturing the rest of us who haven't become that crusty old bastard who knows it all. Sure. 

 

Cheers 

i'm sorry for your family, such a rude person .

[sandrew33]

Just now, lucjoker said:

i'm sorry for your family, such a rude person .

The irony.... 

[tigermoth]

Pity the police don't enforce other old laws like driving laws, overloading, helmets etc., all a threat to innocent lives.

[Trexpat]

2 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Who the fukkk in their right minds go out clubbing before 11pm/12am anyway?

A person who can reasonably work out a scenario in advance and realise that if they need to drink/socialise for 3 or 4 hours first before going clubbing and need at least 3 hours there to have fun then they should meet pals around 5-6 pm instead of 9-10 pm....Not that hard really.

 

I know what comes next I can hear you screamimg 'I have to finish work/school go home get showered and changed eat something and beat the traffic so 5-6 pm is impossible'. Well welcome the to the real world of adult responsibility, sorry its tough being a grown up but when you get there you will have to make decisions based on priorities. So I guess a compromise would be in order, cancel the club or cancel the drinking/socialising and all is good.

 

I hope I have solved your problem.

Have a great day.

[bbi1]

8 minutes ago, Trexpat said:

A person who can reasonably work out a scenario in advance and realise that if they need to drink/socialise for 3 or 4 hours first before going clubbing and need at least 3 hours there to have fun then they should meet pals around 5-6 pm instead of 9-10 pm....Not that hard really.

 

I know what comes next I can hear you screamimg 'I have to finish work/school go home get showered and changed eat something and beat the traffic so 5-6 pm is impossible'. Well welcome the to the real world of adult responsibility, sorry its tough being a grown up but when you get there you will have to make decisions based on priorities. So I guess a compromise would be in order, cancel the club or cancel the drinking/socialising and all is good.

 

I hope I have solved your problem.

Have a great day.

Wow we have another genius suggestion here of hitting up the clubs at 5pm lol. Yeah you do that if you want but you're gonna have to commit a crime and break into the club as don't they usually open at the earliest around 8pm or 9pm anyway?

 

And no you're wrong, I don't need to worry about traffic or finishing work/school late & rushing home to shower and eat but thanks for trying to predict what I would say next :)

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

57 minutes ago, charmonman said:

I seem to remember going through this under Thaksin back in the mid-2000s. Things eventually kind of went back to "normal". I remember also back in the nineties stumbling out of the original  Thermae at 6AM a few times - those were the days. Bangkok nightlife has never really been the same (or as good) since the self righteous moral majority types started asserting themselves.

Yes those were the days! When most bars in Patpong were lined up with stunners and the old Thermae was the jam packed every night. I am happy that I was here during those times, they will never come back. Todays nightlife in Bangkok sucks compared to the 80s. Having much more fun now in KL, Phnom Penh and even in Singapore and Jakarta.

[Salerno]

Haven't been to Swing since before it moved; same same in the new location or gone further downhill?

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, Kabula said:

Too much information on the net.  The owner of Mixx would not appreciate that!

I would bet that Mixx and brown envelopes are very compatible.

[bbi1]

Just now, Salerno said:

Haven't been to Swing since before it moved; same same in the new location or gone further downhill?

Opposite Spicy, above that restaurant.

[gios50hk]

3 hours ago, catman20 said:

what, !!!!!! clean and tidy ????????????

What - with a proper legal system, free of rampant corruption, countless criminals, scam artists and other low-life scum!

[Salerno]

2 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Opposite Spicy, above that restaurant.

It moved earlier this year (January I heard, not too far from where it was but can't remember where off the top of my head), was wondering if it was still as bad in the new location ... was OK for a final drink but not much else.

[Sydebolle]

The less the governments would be involved the better certain countries would do. Set bench marks, enforce (common sense) law but don't mess around with the supply and demand equation - provenly back firing

 

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, sanemax said:

Same thing had happened in CM over the recent years

Five years ago , places used to stay open until the last person left , even 9 AM

rules then came in , making everywhere close at 3 AM

This then changed to midnight .

The Police driving around slowly with flashing lights at midnight reminding everyone to close

A few establishments  flouted the law

Shutters down, Police come and go, shutters back up again

A few places go raided, closed down permanently 

The late night drinking places became harder and harder to find

Even those, you would be sitting with the lights dimmed , music off and whispering

Those places then stopped opening late

There were always the 24 hour beer shops , that you could get a beer from

Those then got clamped down as well .

Beer shops now close at midnight as well

There are a few back street shops that stay open later

But, why bother ?

Its a great time to quit drinking

Lots of tourists will be saying it's a great time to quit holidaying in Thailand, and the authorities will only have themselves to blame, they just have no common sense at all, surely it will benefit Thailand a lot more if there was good occupation in hotels and guesthouses. as well as other businesses.

[meom]

14 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

You're right, Swing didn't start till about 6am. I heard the cops owns that place. Man, that place is an biggest shithole out of all the shitholes in the world.

LOL.

After a 3 day bender without sleep it used to be a good place to bring your shriveled di.ck back to life and get really drunk.

[Scott]

I spent a number of years in various positions overseas, but my home base was in BKK.   One of the things that was nice was that I didn't have to worry too much about jet lag because I was pretty free to enjoy myself what time it was.  

 

After settling back in Thailand, I seldom went out late at night, but it was nice when overseas visitors came and could spend the cool evening and night time enjoying themselves.  All I had to do was give them the address written in Thai and they were free to enjoy themselves to the max.

 

As long as the government was run by private people, they needed to pay attention to the needs of tourists and the money they bring in.   I don't think the present people in power have the same obligation. 

 

 

[suzannegoh]

3 hours ago, dg1980 said:

Apparently some Thais believe that Bangkok would better if it was more like Singapore.

Not sure if you meant that in jest but it's actually quite true.

[impulse]

3 hours ago, sandrew33 said:

Here come the TV old fuddies this site is famous for

 

We're the counterpoint to the narcissistic visitors who think Thailand, the Thai service people and Thai women were put on the earth to cater to their hedonistic whims and God help anyone that gets in the way of my right to spend my little wad of tourist money, even if it means keeping the neighbors awake all night.

 

I have absolutely no problems with people dancing and drinking until dawn.  Until it impinges on the rights of others to enjoy the peaceful use of their homes.  I'm probably a little different than most, because I've worked with hundreds of Thai's that have absolutely nothing to do with tourism.  So I get to hear input that isn't skewed by their desire to keep my money flowing in their direction.   Strangely, not a one of them has ever called me a handsum man.  

 

I hate to say, their impression of tourists (and mostly their behavior) isn't really all that favorable.  And most of them are kids in their 20's and 30's doing their best to raise their families.  So it's not just the old farts that are pleased.

 

[LannaGuy]

This madness in Chiang Mai for last 2/3 years and they think this will help tourism?  the Junta seems hell bent on destroying Thailand and they are certainly peeing off the majority of Thais I know and the thing might snap eventually 

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

2 hours ago, dcsw53 said:

Not just Thais. Keep Thai prices, install some pavements that allow people to walk on them and improve the air quality and tourist numbers would rocket.

If I want that I will go to New Zealand thanks.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, Salerno said:

So you're saying those that like to party all night are not normal?

If they come here for a two or three week holiday and party all night, it is perfectly normal, it's just that the Thai authorities are two stupid to see that.

 

Or maybe there is some way their pockets are getting lined by closing the bars and nightclubs at midnight. Then you get the biggest clubs that will provide 

the big thick brown envelopes.

[sandrew33]

6 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

We're the counterpoint to the narcissistic visitors who think Thailand, the Thai service people and Thai women were put on the earth to cater to their hedonistic whims and God help anyone that gets in the way of my right to spend my little wad of tourist money, even if it means keeping the neighbors awake all night.

 

I have absolutely no problems with people dancing and drinking until dawn.  Until it impinges on the rights of others to enjoy the peaceful use of their homes.  I'm probably a little different than most, because I've worked with hundreds of Thai's that have absolutely nothing to do with tourism.  So I get to hear input that isn't skewed by their desire to keep my money flowing in their direction.   Strangely, not a one of them has ever called me a handsum man.  

 

And I hate to say, their impression of tourists (and mostly their behavior) isn't really all that favorable.  And most of them are kids in their 20's and 30's doing their best to raise their families.

 

Which if you read my response to the post you quoted isn't what I am - I.e a tourist. 

 

I run business here with middle class and wealthy Thais. Their opinion on lots of things is as you say. But these club and bar closures are impacting Thais as much as farang and there is a degree of unhappiness. Obviously not with the older Thais cos it doesn't effect them. But why some people need to get so sanctimonious and harpy about other people wanting to ensure joy themselves the other side of midnight is beyond me. And there are plenty who like to do so on this site - its they I was referencing. 

 

This isn't a change driven by the impacts of Cowboy or Soi 11 being open too late - they still are. But it is impacting in some areas popular with Thai and farang and again it's not driven by noise complaints but rather by unaccountable numpties running things :) 

[sanemax]

8 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Lots of tourists will be saying it's a great time to quit holidaying in Thailand, and the authorities will only have themselves to blame, they just have no common sense at all, surely it will benefit Thailand a lot more if there was good occupation in hotels and guesthouses. as well as other businesses.

Yes, a certain type of tourist .

The drinking fraternity .

Living in CM and seeing the changes over the years , the place is much better without the drinkers .

   There used to be drunks staggering around all night , shouting , arguing , pissing and puking and telling their best mate how much he loved him and getting into fights .

   Proudly driving around on mopeds with prostitutes on the back , thinking how cool they are to have "pulled" a lady the night before .

  Obnoxious people who  made life unpleasant for everyone else .

Those people have left and life is so much better for everyone else .

Although the prostitutes do seem to miss them , they now have to get regular jobs

[chilli42]

Owners were told that it's in response to the bombing last week.  I know, I know, don't shoot the messenger though.

[Toshiba66]

1 hour ago, novo58 said:

Not many people I have met get off a " long flight and head straight to a bar. Dont you get "free drinks" on your long flight airline ?

I don't know anyone that gets off a long flight and doesn't head for a bar. Yes you get free drinks but that doesn't mean your not going to be thirsty afterwards.

[hawker9000]

2 hours ago, sanemax said:

Not all tourists like going out clubbing /drinking .

I think you're absoltely right!  Why I'll bet there are as many as 3 or even 4 that don't.  Good call!

[Lupatria]

3 hours ago, catman20 said:

what, !!!!!! clean and tidy ????????????

...and no corrupt cops around?

[kingstonkid]

3 hours ago, Maggusoil said:

One would wonder why a brain cannot extrapolate that before it happens. . . . . 

The duuh factor seems excessive. Why kill the goose? Oh let me see. If I kill the goose it will not 

lay eggs like it used to. I wonder is this is a good idea. Will we be able to revive the goose later?

 

Lets ask a monk. Pay a monk? Pay somebody else? It was an old law, lets revive it and see if it works.

Hahahahahahahah OMG

 

It is not so much killing the goose as you say but telling the Goose that they have to apply for the correct paperwork and be in line with the regulations for a bar/nightclub and not a restaurant.

 

Canada had the same issue clubs used to register as restaurants because they served chili and poutine.  Anyone that ordered the stuff was told how old it was and convinced not to eat it but it was available so they could circumvent the smoking laws and taxes.

 

It is simply the government saying that a bar is a bar a restaurant is a restaurant.

 

If you look at your own <deleted> country you came from you will see that the rules and licensing is the same.

 

 

[Yann55]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Nothing is curved in stone, the day that all those pious morality police ' do as I say but not as I do' people will realize that tourism is hurting and numbers are falling, they will reverse those opening hours quick smart... nothing like the Thais to go back on their words and 'laws'.....

 

... and the reason 'nothing is curved in stone' is that stones are kind of hard to curve.