Officials to ask governor to revoke Parclub’s operating licence
Authorities found more than 300 pub-goers aged below 20 packed inside a popular nightspot in Muang district of Chiang Rai province in the early hours of Saturday, with all three fire exit doors locked.
A combined team of officials from the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) and the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection (DJOP) stormed Parclub on Rat Bamrung Road around 2am.
Upon seeing the officials, many teenagers waiting to enter the pub fled on motorcycles. After entering the venue, the team found the place was packed with young customers who were drinking and dancing. The team ordered staff at the pub to turn off the music and switch on the lights.
An inspection found 325 pub-goers were under the legal drinking age of 20, with youngest ones aged 16. Fifty customers did not carry ID cards.
All three fire exit doors were locked, according to the DPA’s law enforcement operations centre.
Officials order staff of Parclub to turn off the music and turn on the lights. (Photo: Department of Provincial Administration’s law enforcement operations centre Facebook page)
The pub operator was initially charged with allowing people aged below 20 to use its services, operating beyond legal hours, serving alcoholic drinks to youngsters and related offences.
Following the raid, the team will propose the Chiang Rai governor revoke the operating licence of the pub and order the closure of the place for five years.
Ronnarong Thipsiri, chief of the law enforcement operations centre, who led the raid, said operators of all entertainment venues must have a sense of social responsibility and must refrain from breaking the law.
On Aug 5, a fire started at a nightclub in Sattahip district, Chon Buri, claiming many lives. Its fire exits were also locked.
One of the three fire exit doors at Parclub in Chiang Rai. (Photos: Department of Provincial Administration’s law enforcement operations centre Facebook page)
