Police have raided a Sukhumvit Road pub in Bangkok and seized a huge number of hookahs (smoking apparatus) this week.
The raid of the entertainment venue was carried out in collaboration with a special investigation team from the Thonglor Police Station. The results of the raid were announced by Pol Maj-General Prasit Chaloemwutthisak, secretary-general of The Consumer Protection Board.
“We received a tip-off that a pub in the Sukhumvit area provided ready-to-use barakus or hookahs to foreign tourists and local customers.”
“After inspecting the establishment, police found 26 hookah stations being used by customers, and 34 more in the storage area. Police also found a large number of baraku solutions and smoking equipment.”
According to the secretary-general, preliminary inspection revealed that the establishment made more than 100,000 baht per night from the baraku service alone. The establishment’s manager was taken to Thonglor Police Station for processing.
Pol Maj-General Prasit said that selling or providing barakus, electronic cigarettes, vaping and their liquids is a violation of the Consumer Protection Board’s Order No 9/2015.
“Violators face a maximum of three years’ jail time or 600,000 baht fine, or both.”
Police warned more raids were incoming and reminded business owners that shisha is strictly against Thai Law. The official reason for Shisha being banned according to the consumer protection board is out of concern for it’s negative health effects. Critics, however, claim it’s about money and not to protect public health.
