British Columbians will soon be able to order a beer with their popcorn at local movie theatres. After heavy lobbying from Vancouver’s independent cinemas, the B.C. government has agreed to allow movie and live-event theatres to apply for liquor licences.
“We are absolutely thrilled,” Rio Theatre owner Corinne Lea told Business in Vancouver. “It’s pretty much what we asked for.”
Lea was one of a handful of small independent theatre owners who have led the campaign to change B.C.’s liquor laws with respect to theatres. (See “Sun setting on small cinemas” – issue 1170; March 27-April 2, 2012.)
As an independent, single-screen cinema, the Rio has been having a hard time staying afloat due to high land costs, increased movie downloading and competition from large multiplex theatres. Lea and other small theatre owners lobbied for the right to serve alcohol. But in winning the right to serve booze at live events, the Rio lost the right to show movies – the theatre was told it had to decide whether it was a movie theatre or a concert hall, said Lea.
Now, thanks to pressure from the small theatre industry and Vancouver city council, the B.C. government has introduced a suite of legislative changes, which include:
- multiplex theatres can apply for a liquor licence and serve alcohol in adult-only auditoriums and lobbies;
- single-screen cinemas and live-event theatres can apply to serve alcohol in a lobby where minors are present and to serve liquor in the auditorium for adult-only screenings or events;
- live-event theatres can now show films or broadcasts and host events for people of all ages if no alcohol is served without getting special permission from the province.
It’s the final change that affects the Rio because it means it can now show movies again without having to get special permission from the province. After it had won the right to serve alcohol at live events, it had to get special permission any time it wanted to show a movie.
Under the new law, patrons will only be allowed to drink alcohol in the auditorium if there are no minors present.
The one problem some movie theatres may have is getting municipal government approval, as local councils have input – and considerable sway – on all new liquor licence applications.
Jeremy Bator, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Association of British Columbia, welcomed the changes.
“These changes will have a positive impact on so many levels, including increased jobs, a better guest experience and a more level playing field in the increasingly competitive landscape of entertainment in Canada,” he said.
There are about 30 live-event theatres and 100 movie theatres in B.C. that are eligible to apply for liquor licences, according to the B.C. government.
B.C. will become the fourth province to allow booze in theatres. Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta permit alcohol in movie theatres, with age restrictions.
