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Author Topic: First Saskatchewan theatre to sell alcohol at movies Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 02-02-2014 12:33 PM                        quote: Steve Matz If they sold alcohol in any of the theaters here you would see our City Cops scouring the Parking Lots hoping to write someone up for a DUI. If the theater is one that is not easy to get to on foot or by public transportation (which in the US means most of them), that would create a risk. Every now and again someone tries to open a pub or bar at a "motorway services" (a dedicated food/drink/bathroom/gas stop facility on a British freeway with its own entrance and exit - unlike in America, you often don't find a little strip mall with these things at most normal exits), the people wanting to do it make the point that passengers in cars and buses aren't driving and therefore why should they be denied a beer or two? And in response, the road safety lobby predicts that if you did put a pub in a service station, the law of averages dictates that there would be some drivers who'd be unable to control themselves. I'm guessing that the licensing authorities in the US cities which do allow booze to be served in theatres have decided that the risk of drink-driving problems isn't big enough to justify denying the licenses. And theatres are by no means the only places that serve booze and that you can only really get to by private car - most restaurants around here fall into that category, for one thing.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 02-02-2014 02:57 PM                     Honestly, I didn't bother responding to the "they'd surround the theater hoping to catch someone" because it's simply ridiculous. People serve booze at almost every major restaurant and there aren't cops just circling around all of them all the time. Why? Because the cops, believe it or not, are not stupid enough to waste their time doing such a thing. They wait around bars because people go to those to get drunk. People having a beer at a theater are not a priority of theirs because they know that people don't primarily go to a movie theater, whether it serves alcohol or not, to primarily get drunk.  |  IP: Logged Allan Young Expert Film Handler Posts: 125 From: EGHAM, Surrey UK Registered: Jun 2011 posted 02-03-2014 09:34 AM                     quote: Leo Enticknap Every now and again someone tries to open a pub or bar at a "motorway services" The first one opened a couple of weeks ago.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 02-03-2014 12:21 PM                        I land with those who don't see the controversy here. When I bought my drive-in, our $5 carload screens were a complete zoo. It frequently took 3 hours to pick up the trash... mainly beer cans & outside food containers. My restrooms were frequently vandalized. Patrons were rude and confrontational. The root of the problem was that all anyone need to get in was a 5 dollar bill. People were blowing the rest on beer before coming out. They had no investment in their evening here, so no reason to respect the place, and no real consequences if they got kicked out. I completely turned the problem around by eliminating the "free ride" and going per-cap admit. Almost immediately, the problem patrons found somewhere else to go. Nobody is going to spend $10 or so to spend 2 hours in your theatre, just to get smashed on white zin and be an ass. We frequently patronize an area theatre, which has a VIP, 21+ auditorium. We'll have a couple of drinks through the movie. I've never seen a hint of a problem from anyone.  |  IP: Logged Frank Cox Film God Posts: 2234 From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada Registered: Apr 2011 posted 02-03-2014 05:25 PM                        The first year that my theatre was open, I did what is now my usual free Christmas show with Santa Claus. I thought it would be nice to give away free popcorn in addition to the free admission. NEVER AGAIN. After the show I had to use a grain shovel to clean up the popcorn off of the floor. I can't remember how many garbage bags full of popcorn I threw out that day, but it was more than a few. Since then admission to the Christmas show is free, but you have to pay for your popcorn. It's still nutty, but there's far less waste and I'm a lot happier.  |  IP: Logged Steve Matz Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 672 From: Billings, Montana, USA Registered: Sep 2003 posted 02-03-2014 07:18 PM                     [quote]Honestly, I didn't bother responding to the "they'd surround the theater hoping to catch someone" because it's simply ridiculous. People serve booze at almost every major restaurant and there aren't cops just circling around all of them all the time. Why? Because the cops, believe it or not, are not stupid enough to waste their time doing such a thing. They wait around bars because people go to those to get drunk. People having a beer at a theater are not a priority of theirs because they know that people don't primarily go to a movie theater, whether it serves alcohol or not, to primarily get drunk.[quote] Well I can tell you never lived where I do or your a cop yourself. This City writes more DUI's Than probably any small city in a 5 state area. Why, because even a 1st time DUI ends up costing the person close to $1500.00. They don't care whether your at a Eating establishment or where ever. This is a Business for them not worrying about Safety concerns. People sneak in Booze all the time to indoor Multi-plexs and if the City allowed Alcohol in theaters our Cops would be there. Trust me I lived here over 55 years I know the routine.  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 02-04-2014 12:36 AM                        quote: Steve Matz This City writes more DUI's Than probably any small city in a 5 state area. Why, because even a 1st time DUI ends up costing the person close to $1500.00. They don't care whether your at a Eating establishment or where ever. This is a Business for them not worrying about Safety concerns. We can go one better. Until about a year ago, the biggest intersection in the middle of town had automatic cameras that flashed you if you went through a red light - even if you did so only a split second after it turned, and in some cases even if you were turning right and the intersection was clear. However, once a critical mass of locals had received love letters from the city (or more accurately, the business to which the city had subcontracted the "safety camera" racket) demanding $400, certain local politicans who were behind the cameras going up in the first place found themselves out of office at the following election, and the cameras were removed. I would say that champagne bottles were popped when the cameras came down, but because Loma Linda is pretty much run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Martinelli's grape juice bottles is probably nearer the mark! My theory is that because Loma Linda offers about the worst prospects for catching drunk drivers outside Saudi Arabia (I would guess that about three quarters of the city's population are teetotal), local law enforcement had to look for other ways to make money. That one sure backfired, though.  |  IP: Logged Paul Gordon Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 580 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Registered: Aug 2005 posted 02-04-2014 07:29 AM                        1 drink during a two hour flick is not going to get you wasted...yet alone drunk. I'd much rather sip a pint then suck back a massive sugar loaded pop.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 02-04-2014 08:29 AM                        quote: Frank Cox If I wanted to run a bar I'd be running a bar. ...and if you wanted to sell popcorn and soda and junk food, you'd be running a candy store, right? How far behind can it be before they start selling weed as well? Although I think the consequences of selling weed would be less of a potential problem than selling alcohol, other than getting super melloed-out patrons to get out of their seats once the show is over. Then on the other hand, whatever the downside, it would all be compensated for by the skyrocketing per cap sales of muchies at concessions!  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 02-04-2014 12:47 PM                        Alternatively you could sell your patrons some even harder stuff, and then they'd be out before the show is over! "It's not the drugs, it's Stanley, guys!"  |  IP: Logged Dave Bird Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 777 From: Perth, Ontario, Canada Registered: Jun 2000 posted 02-04-2014 02:02 PM                        Haha Frank! Reminds me I chased a bunch of pot-heads out of the drive-in last summer at intermission after a kids movie. Mom and Dad in their 60's and 40-something shirtless son (who looked just like Spaulding and Lacey's dealer in "Caddyshack"). Had a few people complain so I went to talk to them. They denied it of course, so I gave them the option of moving (their VW MICROBUS) to the downwind side of the lot and told them I'd be reporting their licence number to the police. They tried to get mad at me, but were too mellow, and I reminded them I live in BC most of the year, I know what I'm smelling. They were gone shortly thereafter.  |  IP: Logged

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