Photo Credit: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill
The government is reconsidering plans to eliminate zoning restrictions for entertainment venues and to relax the ban on alcohol sales between 2-5pm, aiming to curb illegal overtime operations. Business operators in the Khao San area believe that such measures could encourage legal registration and extend operating hours, potentially increasing tax revenue. However, they also emphasize the importance of maintaining zoning controls in certain areas to prevent disturbances to nearby neighborhoods.
During this week’s cabinet session, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed the Interior Permanent Secretary and the Public Health Ministry to examine the possibility of removing zoning regulations for entertainment venues nationwide, according to a government source. The discussion focused on outdated zoning laws that restrict certain entertainment venues to specific designated zones in five key locations—Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chon Buri, and Koh Samui—permitting them to operate until 4am.
In Bangkok, only pubs and bars within approved zones—such as along Ratchadaphisek, Silom, and Phetchaburi roads—are authorized to stay open late. Venues outside these zones must obtain specific licenses or be located within hotels to operate until the early hours. In reality, many venues continue to stay open illegally through bribery of local officials.
The proposed removal of zoning restrictions aims to motivate operators to register officially, which could lead to increased tax collection—potentially amounting to several billion baht. Additionally, authorities are considering lifting the alcohol sales ban from 2-5pm.
Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Association, noted that few bars and pubs in Khao San Road hold entertainment licenses, and new licenses have not been issued for quite some time. Most venues operate on alcohol and food licenses that allow them to stay open until midnight, despite many remaining open into the early morning hours. He suggested that a revised licensing system could encourage illegal operators to register, making it easier for authorities to enforce safety measures.
He proposed that the government could establish different license categories based on operating hours—such as licenses valid until midnight, 2am, or 4am—to better regulate nightlife. While supporting some relaxation of rules, he warned against fully abolishing zoning regulations, as this could lead to nightlife venues opening near residential areas and disturbing local communities. Instead, he recommended expanding existing zoning boundaries to include popular tourism districts like Khao San Road and parts of Sukhumvit Road, considering the changing landscape of Bangkok’s nightlife.
Furthermore, he stressed the need for improved public transportation and increased police presence to support the growing number of nightlife visitors.