Pharadorn chaired an integrated meeting between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Metropolitan Police Bureau, and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission to pilot a Sandbox in the Khaosan and Rambuttri areas. The initiative aims to resolve outdated legal restrictions, emphasizing three main dimensions to prepare for New Year tourism, and set a 15-day deadline for PACC to summarize results.
At 11:55 a.m. on 30 October 2026, Mr. Pharadorn Prisananantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, chaired a meeting to drive the “Sandbox in Khaosan and Rambuttri” measures. Attendees included Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, representatives from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, Pol. Gen. Adis Ngamjitsuksri, advisor to the governor, representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Excise Department, and related agencies. The meeting took place at Paruskawan Room 1, 2nd floor, Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters, focusing on improving licensing and law enforcement for entertainment venues and preventing corruption among officials.
Minister Pharadorn Prisananantakul stated that current problems mainly stem from the 2002 Entertainment Venue Act, which has been in effect for 25 years without updates. This law limits authorized entertainment venues in Bangkok to only three districts, which no longer reflects present social and situational realities.
Because the law requires entertainment venues to be located only in specified zoning areas, many establishments resembling entertainment venues nationwide cannot obtain proper licenses legally. This root issue is widely agreed upon as needing urgent resolution. In the long term, the Department of Provincial Administration is drafting a new Entertainment Venue Act, alongside several political party proposals submitted to the House of Representatives, all requiring time for legislative consideration.
For short-term solutions, the meeting discussed piloting the Khaosan Road area as a Sandbox. The preliminary conclusion is to propose to the Alcohol Control Committee an extension of operating hours. The meeting emphasized three main dimensions as follows.
1. Economic dimension: Due to current legal limits, restaurants and establishments cannot operate beyond midnight, which negatively impacts business and tourism in key economic areas like Bangkok.
2. Safety dimension: Permission or extension of operating hours must strictly link to safety inspections based on 17 criteria set by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Some establishments have already complied, while others are in progress.
3. Legal dimension: Defining clear pilot guidelines and areas will enable officials to enforce laws effectively and reduce issues of bribery or undue benefits from related agencies.
The meeting assigned the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), as the meeting secretariat, to coordinate with relevant agencies to consider issuing a Prime Minister's Office announcement or suitable guidelines and to consult with the Alcohol Control Committee. Progress monitoring and reporting back to the meeting is required within 15 days.
Field surveys by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Metropolitan Police Bureau in Khaosan found over 30 establishments resembling entertainment venues, but only four have proper licenses. Therefore, the Sandbox measures must simultaneously promote economic opportunities, enhance safety standards of buildings and establishments per the BMA checklist, and ensure supervision under correct legal frameworks.
Regarding disciplinary and criminal actions against involved officials, the Metropolitan Police Bureau has established a disciplinary investigation committee, while PACC is conducting preliminary inquiries to proceed with legal action as appropriate.
Yesterday, representatives of business operators submitted a letter expressing economic hardships caused by operating hour restrictions. I clarified that pushing Sandbox measures to extend operating hours must come with cooperation to raise safety standards and comply with laws. The operators understand and are willing to cooperate.
Since the main debate concerns alcohol sale hours, piloting the measures in a small area like Khaosan—where safety and public health measures can be controlled—serves as a model. If evaluations show effective control of safety and health concerns raised by the committee, this will be a key approach to consider expanding to other areas.
Ultimately, a major structural problem is the 2002 decree limiting zoning to only three areas (RCA, Patpong, and Ratchadaphisek). In reality, 22 provinces nationwide have never declared zoning areas yet have numerous establishments, reflecting the law’s obsolescence. All sectors recognize this and are urgently working on broader fixes.
Minister Pharadorn concluded by expressing hope that the Khaosan Sandbox project can be completed in time for the Christmas or New Year festivals. He noted the key issue is deciding the timeframe for alcohol sales, expecting all processes to finish before the year-end travel season, when many foreign tourists will visit Thailand and Khaosan Road.