Lao teens in Vientiane (the capital) enjoying a beer after school.

Vientiane Mayor Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune announced on Friday he had issued an order to deploy police at entertainment venues around Vientiane to prevent children under 18 from gaining entry.

Speaking at a press conference on June 15 at his office, Dr Sinlavong said police would inspect the ID cards of young people trying to enter nightclubs and karaoke bars to see if they were old enough.

“Everyone should carry their ID cards to show the police for inspection,” he said during the interview with local journalists, adding that police may prevent those who fail to have ID cards with them from entering clubs.

In recent years, Vientiane authorities have issued many orders to owners of entertainment venues around Vientiane , requiring them to ban children under 18. Some clubs have signs outside, notifying customers of the ban on underage youths, but they do not carry out checks.

Dr Sinlavong said he hoped police would help owners of entertainment venues to carry out ID checks. He also said the police would help to ensure security at these venues.

Dr Sinlavong said nightclubs were not suitable places for children. Late at night, they should be at home. He pointed out that children would “have to find money from somewhere” to get into nightclubs, which could lead some to engage in criminal activities.

He said Vientiane authorities wanted to instil more order into nightclubs and other places of entertainment, but did not intend to limit their business. Authorities wanted to encourage the entertainment industry, which paid taxes to the government, he said, but added that entertainment venues must comply with certain standards.

Dr Sinlavong said he had assigned the Vientiane Information and Culture Dep artment to set up a taskforce to make sure the most recent order banning children under 18, issued in March, was carried out.

The Deputy Director of the department, Mr Soutan Phonsongkham, said his department had coordinated with the sectors concerned to put the order in motion. He said the taskforce was checking standards at entertainment venues, and some would be closed if they did not comply with the order.

“We are assessing how many nightclubs in Vientiane are maintaining law and order before we station any police there,” he said.

Mr Soutan said the department had informed the owners of entertainment venues about the new order and most were making attempts to comply.

He said he had sent a proposal to the Vientiane Police Headquarters for three police officers to be stationed at each place of entertainment. Nightclub owners would be obliged to pay for the service.

He explained that police working at nightclubs may not wear a uniform “because it would make patrons feel uncomfortable”.


By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
vientianetimes