Bangkok Orders Unlicensed Bars Closed on Khao San Road
Bangkok authorities ordered the closure of 38 unlicensed bars and service venues on Khao San Road after fire safety inspections found most establishments operating without proper authorization or meeting safety standards.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt chaired a meeting with business operators and community representatives along Khao San Road on September 16 to discuss proper legal business conduct and safety measures for customers, following a beer hall fire in Lad Phrao last July. The inspection of Khao San and Rama Butri roads found 42 service venues and similar establishments: 4 properly licensed facilities, and 38 operating without full authorization. Of the unlicensed venues, 5 held music licenses, 25 held food service licenses, and 8 held neither.
Fire safety assessments conducted between July 14 and August 7 found 2 venues meeting standards, 37 requiring improvements, and 3 failing inspection, resulting in closure orders for non-compliant facilities. A follow-up inspection showed 6 venues now passing and 3 still failing. Additionally, 13 venues were found operating beyond the legal closing time of midnight, with 8 venues caught violating hours in both inspections.
Governor Chadchart directed officials to document each venue's specific issues and determine which can be assisted within legal frameworks. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will accelerate necessary actions, improve safety measures suited to local conditions and actual operations, and maintain safety as paramount while considering flexible zoning arrangements for service establishments.
