Many nightspots located illegally, says NLA member
Many night entertainment venues nationwide are illegally located in prohibited zones, the blame for which could lie with state authorities, said Wallop Tangkananurak, National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member yesterday.
He questioned whether entertainment venues scattered in prohibited zones across the country, particularly in Bangkok, were mainly the result of state authorities failing to strictly enforce the law.
Some business operators were blatantly violating the law and contributing to the problem, Mr Wallop said.
He was speaking during an assembly debate yesterday which was chaired by NLA vice-president Surachai Liangboonlertchai.
Mr Wallop, a children’s welfare advocate, also asked the assembly members whether the current laws and regulations were sufficient to regulate nightlife outlets.
It was necessary to devise additional measures such as clearly-designated entertainment zones for more efficient monitoring and policing of nightlife venues, he added.
Responding to Mr Wallop’s queries, Deputy Interior Minister Sutee Markboon insisted the existing laws and measures can regulate entertainment venues effectively enough.
He also cited related laws which were being enforced, including the Entertainment Spot Act, the previous coups’ proclamations associated with the regulation of entertainment venues in 1959 and 1972 as well as the latest orders issued by the National Council for Peace and Order.
According to Mr Sutee, agencies under the ministry have conducted 22,344 inspections on entertainment venues and 102,309 on alcohol outlets nationwide over the past year.
Of all entertainment venues, 341 have been closed down for a gross violation of the law.
Mr Sutee said there were 2,991 registered entertainment venues — 470 in Bangkok and 2,521 in other provinces — in 2015. They were reduced to 2,801 last year after the authorities doubled law enforcement efforts and worked closely with relevant public and private agencies.
Also, the ministry is now reviewing the re-organisation of entertainment venue zoning in 27 provinces.
Of the 27 provinces, new entertainment zones in 13 provinces have been approved by the ministry while the designation of other zones in the remaining provinces are being reviewed by local authorities and will later be considered by the Interior Ministry.
The list of zones approved by the ministry will ultimately be forwarded to the cabinet for final approval.
As for Bangkok, 50 entertainment venue zones, designated during 2002 to 2004, remained unchanged.
Mr Sutee said the ministry has also worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Bureau which oversees venues in the city.
For Bung Kan, which is not among the 27 provinces, because it was a new province established in 2011, zoning will be considered based on economic development potential as well as peace and order in the province.