Thai Smoking ban

Thailand introduced a smoking ban in public places last week. When I first hared about the new law, I smiled to myself thinking this isn’t going to last, although having spent Friday and Saturday night out on the town, my hopes of this just being a faze have slightly evaporated.

Here is an up-date of what bars are enforcing the new law from the different bars/pubs I visited over the weekend:

Ratchadar - I visited 4 bars in ratchadar on Friday and I could smoke in 3 of them. Upon returning on Saturday, one bar that I could smoke in on Friday had changed its policy and had set up an area outside for smokers.

Soi Cowboy - Smoking ban in full swing. Every bar had notices up. A strip club without smoke is simply weird.

RCA - Smoking ban in full swing although it’s kind of cool considering the open areas outside the pubs… it works well.

Ekamai - I can’t remember the name of the pub I visited here, although they were enforcing the non-smoking policy.

Patpong - I’m not sure about the go-go bars in Patpong but the pub on the right half way down the main soi coming up from Silom Road didn’t have a problem with me having a cigarette (although I only stayed for one beer)

The Office bar (sukhemvit) - Smoking bar in full swing.

Gully’s at KSR - I received an SMS from a mate telling me everyone was smoking inside Gully’s with no problems.

Will the new non-smoking law stay? Only time will tell. It’s kind of the same deal with drinking bans and all night clubs - if you stay here long enough, you’ll find places that will let you do what you want. Bangkok’s certainly a city where anything is possible.

The new law is crazy, I strongly believe in enforcing a non smoking policy in restaurants and pubs that allow kids inside, but for clubs that cater to over 20’s it should be the owner’s decision. My hopes of buying my favorite club have just gone out the window… I will not be buying if the non-smoking ban stays.