Bartender shaves woman’s head after she allegedly racks up $1,800 bill and tries to leave without paying

A bartender in Thailand recently took matters into his own hands by shaving a woman’s head after she allegedly tried to leave a bar without paying an $1,800 tab. This incident occurred in the Pinklao area of Bangkok, where the woman had reportedly built a reputation for skipping out on bills at various local establishments. 

As reported by the NY Post, the situation escalated when she entered a popular bar using a fake ID and proceeded to rack up a massive bill of 60,000 baht, which converts to approximately 1,812.25 USD. When she allegedly attempted to slip out of the venue without settling her debt, the staff quickly intercepted her and demanded payment.

Because she was unable to pay the significant amount owed, the woman allegedly agreed to have her head shaved as an alternative to being turned over to the police. The entire interaction was captured on video, showing the woman in a strapless white dress as she seemingly consented to what the staff described as a hair purchase contract. 

The establishment reportedly reached out to apologize

You can clearly hear a man behind the camera speaking to her during the process, stating, “I am not taking advantage of you. This is the market rate. I will attach this for you. I am adding extra for this as well. Okay?” The footage then shows the bartender using an electric razor to remove her thick, shoulder-length hair. According to the claims made at the scene, the hair was intended to be donated.

While the situation might seem like a bizarre resolution to a dispute, it has ignited a fierce debate regarding the legality of such actions. Chalida ‘Ton Or’ Phalamat, who founded the Be One Foundation in Thailand to address issues like child abuse, has been vocal about her disapproval. She believes the bar crossed a serious line and went too far with this punishment. 

According to her, the establishment reportedly reached out to apologize, admitting that the manager had acted out of anger and impulsiveness. They have reportedly expressed an interest in contacting the woman’s family to discuss potential compensation for what transpired.

Chalida noted that a contract for hair purchase made under such duress is legally void. She emphasized that shaving someone’s head, even if they appear to agree under these circumstances, can be classified as assault, coercion, and unlawful detention. She has urged businesses in the area to avoid resorting to mob rule over the law, regardless of how frustrated they might be with customers who fail to pay their tabs.