Underage youth will be now barred from night entertainment centers in Thimphu. The centres include pubs, bars, clubs, drayangs, discotheques and karaoke.
Thimphu Thromde decided this during its last council meeting.
People visiting night entertainment centres will now have to produce Citizenship Identity (CID) cards for age verification.
“Anyone arriving without CID and those below the age of 18 would be turned away,” Thrompon Kinlay Dorjee said.
The Thrompon said the entertainment centres should follow the rule strictly. Flouting the rule would attract fines.
Repeated offence, Thrompon said, would result in cancellation of their business licenses.
“The entertainment licensing committee is now gearing up to be tougher,” Thrompon added.
The parents, meanwhile, welcomes the move.
It’s a very good initiative by the Thromde,” Nim Dem, a mother, said
“When our children go out with their friends, we don’t know where they are really going. This new initiative will help keep our children away from alcohol and drugs,” she added.
“Children shouldn’t drink and it’s sad when the underage go to entertainment centres,” Kabi Raj Rai, another parent, said.
“I hope this new move by the Thromde will help prevent our children from getting into fights and alcohol.”
Thimphu Thromde, in collaboration with relevant agencies, will strictly monitor the entertainment centres to ensure they do not entertain children below the age of 18.
