Thailand is a beautiful country to visit with a notoriously wild night life. Many people think of the city of Bangkok and bangkok bars and assume that it is a place where 'anything goes'. However, that is actually not completely true. When visiting a foreign country, it is always good to read up on laws and regulations before you go.
While traveling in foreign countries, only keep original documents such as driver's licenses, passports, and birth certificates on your person if you are absolutely sure you will need them - for instance, if you are boarding a plane. Otherwise, make copies of the documents, and keep the originals in your hotel room, preferably secured in a hotel safe.
Because bangkok bars are popular tourist attractions, they are also common places for pick pockets, thieves, and others who would like to cheat the unknowing tourist out of their money and/or personal possessions. Always make sure, especially when consuming alcohol that you keep track of your personal belongings at all times.
The Thai government and bar owners have cooperated to introduce laws to keep bar patrons safer, because the bars are so popular with many different kinds of people. One of the more basic laws is that you must provide some form of identification to be let into the bar. You may want to call ahead to a few bars that you want to visit so that you can be sure that your passport is an acceptable form of identification.
In Thailand as in America, the significance of secondhand smoke is now recognized and has caused new statutes to be put into effect as to when and if customers in Bangkok taverns may continue smoking. These statutes vary from day to day and week to week, as well as from venue to venue. If smoking really matters to you, you will want to verify in advance the status of a given location. However, most places allow smoking.
Go Go clubs are an extremely popular type of bar in Bangkok. These places are open late at night. Compared to clubs and bars in the United States, Thailand's clubs have more relaxed rules. Thailand has different laws pertaining to these establishments. "Katoeys" or transvestites are common terms heard in Bangkok bars. Knowing a little about the culture of where you are visiting can save you trouble and embarrassment in foreign lands.