"Arsit" held an urgent meeting to overhaul zoning regulations and clamp down on restaurants masquerading as pubs, concerned about repeated failures to meet safety standards.
On 15 July, Arsit Sampantharat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, revealed that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has a policy to revise entertainment venue laws. The Prime Minister recognizes that as the country's situation changes, existing laws have become outdated and thus require review and adjustment to be suitable for current circumstances.
"Future zoning of entertainment venues must be considered by authorized officials. In Bangkok, this responsibility lies with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, while in provinces it is the duty of provincial governors. The Prime Minister has urged all relevant agencies to submit proposals as soon as possible," the Permanent Secretary said.
When asked about stricter enforcement against entertainment venues violating laws, Arsit said many currently evade regulations by registering as restaurants, but in reality sell alcoholic beverages and allow dancing. Legally, these activities classify such places as "entertainment venues," and operating without proper licenses will result in immediate prosecution.
Additionally, the Permanent Secretary highlighted two main root causes of current problems: these issues do not arise from the business operations themselves, but from operators lacking safety standards and emergency response plans. Such venues cannot adequately support or ensure the safety of their patrons during accidents or emergencies.
Arsit concluded by stating that multiple agencies share responsibility for addressing this issue. He urged the public to report any entertainment venues violating laws or failing to meet standards. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior is taking proactive steps by instructing the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Security Affairs to urgently coordinate a meeting, expected soon, to establish new social order regulations immediately.