A number of pubs in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area, which were closed down by the police for operating without a license and/or for violating COVID-19 safety measures between November 2019 and April last year, have been found to be still operating illegally, according to an on-the-spot investigation by Thai PBS reporters.
For instance, a pub located at the mouth of Sukhumvit Soi 22 in Klong Toey district was closed in November 2019, after Thonglor police found that it did not have a permit to sell liquor and did not have a pub license. After a long closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, it reopened again as the situation improved, but was closed again by the police.
Another pub, located in Soi Thonglor 13, was closed after Thonglor police searched the venue on April 1st last year and was discovered not to have an operating license and was failing to comply with safety measures, with a lack of social distancing and staff not wearing face masks. The venue features live music and dance performances. Another 60-day closure order was issued after the venue has failed to meet the legal requirements.
Thai PBS reporters recorded the presence of a few security guards in front of this pub, directing patron traffic. A few police motorcycles were found among other motorcycles at the location and men, who dressed like policemen, were seen at the entrance of the pub.
A third pub in the Thonglor area visited by the reporters, which was closed last March for operating without a license and violating COVID-19 safety measures, remains shuttered.
Police in Bangkok have tightened up on spot checks of night spots after the fatal August 5th fire at the Mountain B pub in Sattahip district of Chon Buri, which has led to the deaths of 17 people so far and dozens of injuries, including some people who were critically injured currently on life-support system in hospitals.
