79 Bangkok entertainment venues ordered shut following city-wide checks

Bangkok authorities have shut down 79 entertainment venues and similar establishments as part of a rigorous week-long inspection campaign across the capital. The operation, which ran from July 19 to 26, examined 865 premises, achieving 72% of the city's target of 1,204 venues. Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornphrom Vikitsreth reported the findings, detailing the outcomes of the safety and licensing checks.

The inspected venues were categorized into three groups. The first group consisted of 168 businesses that met all licensing and safety requirements. The second group comprised 618 establishments ordered to make improvements; 570 of these had valid licenses but minor issues, while 48 had previously been warned but failed to rectify problems. The third and final group included the 79 venues now ordered to halt operations.

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The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said it would continue inspecting entertainment venues and similar establishments across the capital to strengthen safety standards and ensure that operators comply with the law.

Among the 79 closed venues, 19 were specifically instructed to suspend live music due to a lack of proper licensing for such activities. An additional 60 businesses were temporarily shut down for operating without the necessary overall operating licenses. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has stated its commitment to continuing these inspections to reinforce safety standards and ensure all operators adhere strictly to the law, aiming to increase public trust in the venues they patronize.

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City Hall said the campaign was also intended to increase confidence among members of the public using the venues.