PATTAYA, THAILAND – An uncontrolled late-night gathering spot for teenagers developed on central Pattaya Beach over the Christmas holidays, directly opposite a police station.
Unregulated night meeting point by shopping mall
On the late evening of 25 December 2025, reporters visited the section in front of the Central Pattaya Beach shopping mall near Soi 9 after concerned parents had filed complaints. Dozens of youths and young adults, many clearly under 20 years old, were seen sitting in groups on the sand. Vendors openly rented out beach chairs while simultaneously offering alcohol, beer, cannabis and boiled kratom drinks, as the groups stayed until deep into the night, drinking and partying in sight of the Pattaya Police Station.
Kratom drinks, cannabis and alcohol without visible checks
According to observations, uncontrolled kratom beverages were served on the beach side, alongside beer and other alcoholic drinks. Across the road, stalls sold pre-packaged cannabis, with no visible indication of regulation. Numerous sidecar tuk-tuks lined the street selling food, and some of these mobile food stands were believed on site to be operating without regular licenses, while no visible official inspections were apparent.
Too young for clubs, teens move nightlife to the beach
Conversations and impressions suggested that many of the young people deliberately chose this stretch because they were too young for official nightlife venues. Instead, they used the beach, where drinks appeared to be available all night, beach chairs could be rented cheaply and music from Bluetooth speakers created a party atmosphere. The publicly accessible toilets at the nearby police station were reportedly open around the clock, which residents said made longer night-time stays and spontaneous seaside parties easier.
Parents and residents warn of safety risks
Parents and local residents voiced serious concerns about safety risks and behaviour they viewed as inappropriate for such young groups. They called on the responsible authorities to enforce rules, step up controls and restore order along the beach area. Memories of earlier incidents at Pattaya Beach weighed heavily, as previous night-time gatherings in the area had already led to clashes and violence, in some cases involving firearms, and neighbours warned that similar scenes could return if swift action was not taken.
Debate over open beaches and stricter rules
Residents and observers raised the broader question of how to handle freely accessible beach areas that turn into informal party zones for minors.
“How should freely accessible beach areas be managed when they develop into unofficial party zones for underage youths – with stricter regulation or by expecting more personal responsibility from the teenagers?”
said local commentators, noting that a controversial debate over the limits of freedom in public spaces had begun.