In scenes that could have been lifted straight out of George Orwell’s distopian novel 1984, Pattaya police were out in force at 2 am this morning checking that strict midnight closing was being observed.
District chief Amnat Charoensri sent in Pornchai Sang-iat to Walking Street, Sai 3 and Soi Bua Khao.
Though most bars had shut up for the night some had not. Warnings were issued and patrons were told to go home immediately and not to set up alcohol drinking parties.
But at three bars together under the same ownership the authorities decided to act.
These were the Minny Coffee and Bar, a place by a similar name called Mini and one called Thiam Khwan.
Here there were many Thais and foreigners drinking. When they saw the authorities some tried to flee the scene but were rounded up and reminded of the rules as they now stand – stricter than before due to the latest outbreaks in Thailand and in Chonburi.
The bars were all shut down and the owner was taken away to city hall and served with the trumped up charges of operating without a licence, serving alcohol out of hours and flouting Covid-19 rules.
He was then handed over to the Pattaya police.
