An 18 year old woman has filed a police complaint after a Bangkok host bar manager shaved her head following an unpaid bill of nearly 60,000 baht (around S$2,300), according to Thai and regional reports.
The incident happened on Aug 25 at a host bar in the Pinklao area. The woman, identified by the pseudonym Ms Muay, had reportedly ordered more than 200 drinks for hosts. When the bill came to about 60,000 baht, she was unable to pay it. Footage of her hair being cut and shaved later spread online, drawing widespread attention.
She Admitted Using An Altered ID
Ms Muay later went to Bang Yi Khan Police Station with her 34-year-old mother on Aug 28 to lodge a complaint. She admitted that she had altered the year of birth on her national ID to get into host bars, as she was only 18 at the time. Thai law restricts alcohol sales to people under 20.
According to reports, Ms Muay had discovered host bars through TikTok before visiting several venues. She reportedly spent around 13,000 baht at one establishment and later accumulated another 30,000-baht debt at a second venue. At the third bar, she ordered more than 200 drinks, leaving the bill at around 60,000 baht. These details were reported from accounts given by Ms Muay and the venues involved.
Ms Muay alleged that staff threatened her after she could not settle the bill. She said she agreed to an arrangement involving her hair but understood that it would only be cut shorter. Instead, she said the manager shaved her head completely. Her mother also said she had agreed to an arrangement involving the sale of her daughter’s hair but did not expect her to be shaved bald.
Manager Gives A Different Account
The manager, identified in Thai reports as 30 year old Mr Earth, denied physically assaulting or forcing Ms Muay. He said she arrived at around 8pm on Aug 25 and ordered drinks for several hosts, eventually running up a bill of more than 200 drinks at about 60,000 baht. He said staff checked the bill around midnight but waited until about 8am while she tried to find a way to pay.
Mr Earth said the bar later contacted Ms Muay’s mother to discuss repayment. He claimed staff initially suggested that she work as a cleaner to clear the debt, but that option was rejected. He then said they agreed to cancel the 60,000-baht bill in exchange for her hair, with the hair valued at 3,000 baht. He maintained that Ms Muay and her mother agreed to the arrangement.
The manager also said the venue only learned later that Ms Muay was actually 18 and had altered her ID. He claimed the document shown to staff indicated that she was old enough to enter. He later apologised for the incident and said he was willing to discuss compensation and mediation with the family.
Chalida Questions The Bar’s Actions
Chalida Phalamat of the Pen Nueng Foundation said she wanted to hear both sides of the story, but still described the head-shaving as excessive. She questioned why the bar did not simply contact police over the unpaid bill instead of handling the situation itself.
Chalida also said the bar had contacted her to apologise and acknowledged that the manager had acted out of anger and impulsiveness. She said the venue also agreed to contact the woman’s family to discuss compensation for what happened.
The dispute was later settled after the woman’s mother and the bar reached an agreement. Both sides apologised to each other, while the bar also apologised over the incident. They agreed not to pursue further legal action against each other, bringing the dispute to an end.
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