Many of the bars and nightclubs along the infamous Bangla Road were actually asked by the US Navy to close on time, at the official time of 2am.
In response to this, it was reported that the President of the Entertainment Association of Patong had grumbled about the request saying that such visits were normally times that they made extra money.
He added that despite earning less income from the ‘partying sailors’, the Association still had to pay off all the usual bribes.
Extortion, corruption and bribery aside (this is, after all, Patong) isn’t it the point that, regardless of whether the sun is shining or not, businesses and individuals should not have carte blanche to operate outside of the law. Full stop. No more to be said. Another idiom applies: Two wrongs don’t make a right.
What is also rather telling is that the US Navy felt the need to make the request that bars and nightclubs adhere to the law and close on time. This is like saying to the police when they pull you over for not wearing a helmet, “Now don’t forget to charge me B300-500 for my minor driving violation,” or to a masseuse, “After 60 minutes, please desist in touching me.”
Odd, but perhaps necessary depending on the particular bar, officer and massage therapist.
Laws and regulations are not up for interpretation, nor should they be allowed to differ according to interpretation, persuasion, ethnicity or financial status.
Laws should be absolute, otherwise they are merely guidelines that deserve to be stretched, bent or broken.
So hi-ho sailors, thanks for coming. Hope you enjoyed your time here and thanks for adhering to the laws... Yes we do have them here.