The following is a reader submission and may not reflect the opinions of The Pattaya News Company. The opinions within are the readers own. If you would like to make a submission please email us at pattayanewseditor@gmail.com
It’s Friday night in Pattaya, normally a busy time in one of the world’s biggest nightlife capitals that bring millions to the city yearly.
Except that this Friday is in June 2020 and in the middle of the Covid19 Coronavirus crisis and although there hasn’t been a single case in Pattaya for two months all entertainment venues remain force closed by the government.
Well, sort of.
There are a few places in town, one on Soi Buakhao and one in Jomtien, that are using loopholes to still attract large crowds and sell alcohol. I won’t name them specifically as I am aware it can be against Thailands strict slander laws but if your in Pattaya now you know where I am talking about.
The loophole appears to be selling alcohol for take away from vendors or cocktail carts or bars so that people can then move to public seating nearby and drink, eat, socialize, listen to music (one of these places has a live DJ) and basically break every Covid19 rule. Since the seating is public there is no restaurant or bar to be charged and the booth can legally sell take away apparently. It is still technically illegal to drink in public and gather but for whatever reason the police aren’t enforcing this regularly. I’m aware they have shooed people on a few times but for the most part it seems accepted. Both these places attract hundreds of people nightly, almost none wearing masks or social distancing.
Now, before people say I am a grass or a snitch etc…..not at all. I don’t really care that these places are doing it. Before I am accused of being a social distance warrior…not at all. I believe the virus is pretty much gone in Thailand and there is zero risk to drinking or socializing with friends.
So why write this submission? Because in my opinion, it’s time to open everything. Thousands of bars and nightlife venues remain closed that legally pay licenses and have staff, rent, electric etc. Many are forced to pay these items even when closed. They have been closed now for almost three months.
I’m not upset at these popular places, where hundreds of people can be seen nightly, being popular as it’s quite obvious people in Pattaya are tired of this virus situation and want to get back to normal. Not a new normal….normal.
It’s time to end this double standard. Either let everything open or the police need to be fair and crack down on these loophole places that are costing honest owners money who remain force closed.
Dave, Pattaya resident eight years
