''It's very confusing,'' a Phuketwan reader, said today. ''Patong Mayor Pian Keesin said corruption was being beaten, and that municipality staff are advised to not receive bribes. So who is the 10 million baht going to?''

Posted by Mr Man on January 25, 2012 13:39

"The owners of nightspots, bars and venues in Patong are objecting to being forced to close at 2am after paying almost 10 million baht a month to officials to stay open until much later."
10 millions is money to bribes officials which should be fighting it as it is the cause of majors problems in Phuket such as tuktuk cartels, jetski scams and so on...

Posted by Whistle-Blower on January 25, 2012 13:40

Its a vicious circle - they punters don't go out til late so the girls don't go out til late, so the punters don't go out................... Enforce the 2am closure (not just for a couple of days as has just occurred) and people may start going out earlier, thereby still generating capital for entertainment based businesses. Phuket is the only place I've been to where it's pointless going out for 'fun' until 10 or 11pm. By then I'm ready for bed! Although one can always find late night venues open in Bangkok and Pattaya closures are far more effective up there. Chiang Mai goes quiet around midnite if I remember correctly.

Posted by Mister Ree on January 25, 2012 14:06

Excellent article. Thank you Phuketwan.

And would second Mister Ree that everyone would learn to live with 2am closures. In a perfect world, I would like to go out as long as I want, having fun until 2am is sometimes just not enough... And the problems with drunks will only be earlier...

So behavior of security is one major point. Women, talking, pepper spray and teasers and police, not knives, battle-axes, golf clubs should be the "weapons" of choice against trouble makers.

But what kills the joy of going out late is, that Patong pays way over a quarter million dollars a month to people, who have no business in receiving payments. That is the root of so many problems in Thailand.

The quasi legalization of private funding of officials. Why not give licences for late stay, that can be auctioned once a year. And the province will get the money.

Posted by Lena on January 25, 2012 15:53

Nil alcohol for Security and Touts working at night would lesson the incidents, I see the attitude change in them the same as Tourists.

Posted by Law on January 25, 2012 19:02

Have you ever met a "security" person anywhere that had their head and heart in the right place? The only time you will, is where laws are enforced, and people go to jail for assault. That doesn't happen here and won't.

Posted by JingJing on January 25, 2012 19:19

A few questions.Does this 10m baht paid to officials include the money paid to the police to turn a blind eye when a bar stays open late? Why is it fair for Phuket and the rest of Thailand to close at 2am but not Patong? When i first came to Patong 10yrs ago you could go down any soi off Bangla rd at 9oclock and they would be buzzing and by 2:30/3:00am the streets would be deserted i can't remember anyone complaining that they could not get a drink. Today you go down the same Sois and they are empty till 11 oclock, most of the staff don't even turn up till that time, its one of the reason i dont like Patong anymore, i don't want to be going home at 4 and 5 oclock in the morning, but i find now if i go down Bangla at 8,9 or even 10 o clock i can sit in 90% of the bars and be the only person there, so not much point in going out. Thats why i have gone from spending 6 months a year in Patong to maybe 4 weeks a year. Moved up North to Korat and love it.

Posted by Neil A on January 26, 2012 03:15

NeilA, I think you are spot on. 10 years ago in Patong everyone realised 2am closing, so it was party time 8pm. Now its dead in Patong before 11pm. However 15km away in Phuket town, most close 2am sharp, and they make very good money 10-2

Posted by katabeachbum on January 26, 2012 10:53

120 million baht a year im backhanders bribes plus free drinks an other incidentals an they have no idea why they cant see a profit margin check your books theres creative accounting going on somewhere evidently this is standard buisness practice in patong.

Posted by traveller on January 27, 2012 22:59

Sorry Mr Ree but night clubs around the world don't open until 10 or 11 pm and most of therm stay open until around 6 in the morning. Personally I prefer it that way. I can go out and have a meal and a few drinks and be tucked up in bed before all of the drunks start hitting the streets, fighting, vomiting and generally making idiots of themselves.

Posted by Pete on January 28, 2012 06:27

In the interest of public health and worker safety, the 2AM closing should be enforced. Such closings do not seem to negatively impact other tourist venues around the world.

Posted by Ryan on January 29, 2012 01:32