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beandelphikiThe Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is going to be granting Famous Players theatre locations in Calgary and Edmonton liquor licenses.
Yeah, liquor licenses. They're going to be selling beer in movie theatres now.
Why? What's the point of this, beyond making more money? It's so idiotic. Movie theatres are places where people take their kids for afternoon matinees, where people go to hang out as friends. Now they're going to be selling alcohol?
The arguments for this seem to be:
- alcohol will not be served to minors (yeah, right)
- there will be limits on consumption (hole punches on tickets)
- people will only be allowed to drink in the lobby
- live theatre venues serve liquor in the lobbies
Several problems.
First, we all know that restrictions on serving alcohol to minors don't work. Personally, I am all for getting rid of those laws altogether, and allowing everyone to be able to drink at any age. I think that by making alcohol forbidden fruit, we set up young people to sneakily indulge and abuse alcohol. But putting beer and wine coolers in a place where teenagers frequent and then making it unattainable only makes that problem worse. It's an even bigger temptation than it would normally be.
Secondly, the restrictions on consumption. I'm relieved by this, personally - nobody wants to go to the movies with a drunk. However, what is the restriction going to be? One drink? Two? Three? I know I can get drunk off one drink - there's no limit they can set that will keep everyone from over-indulging for their size and experience. One would hope that no one is going to be stupid about this - I know I certainly will never be drinking in a movie theatre - but you can't count on everyone to be smart about it.
Drinking only in the lobby? So when are people going to drink, exactly - after they get out of a showing, or before? People rushing to down alcoholic drinks so they can get into the theatre on time is really only going to worsen any possible problems with public intoxication.
And finally - the argument that live theatre venues serve alcohol. Yes, they do. However, live theatre-goers are almost all adults, except with specific exceptions, like the Christmas-time performances of the Nutcracker. Honestly, I don't like the idea of children being exposed to alcohol in a venue where it is undoubtedly going to be treated with less care than is really needed.
And as long as we're discussing theatre in general, I want to point out how theatre-going etiquette has deteriorated in the past several decades. Few people understand how to properly attend the theatre any more. People leave on their cell phones and pagers, leave half-way through performances, talk during performances, arrive and seat themselves late, eat in the theatre, and generally act as though shows are being put on for their pleasure only, with no responsibility on their part to show respect for the performers or their fellow audience members. People do not show their appreciation for the art of theatre anymore.
This has carried over to movie theatres, and it's appalling. Just because the actors are not there to hear your comments (and believe me, they can hear people talking in live theatre, and often exactly what people are saying), does not mean that it's perfectly okay for you to disrespect their work. Nor should you disrespect your fellow audience members. That means: don't talk; don't get up and leave unless you absolutely must (part of the problem is movie theatres no longer allow intermissions on long movies, so the weak-bladdered must be a tad rude); don't arrive late; don't leave your ringer on; and for god's sake - if you must eat, eat quietly. There's nothing more irritating than being stuck next to a popcorn-cruncher.
Serving alcohol in movie theatres, I think, is serving alcohol to audiences who've shown no particular affinity for the social sophistication and class it takes to consume alcohol sparingly.
I despair for future theatre-goers.
Yeah, liquor licenses. They're going to be selling beer in movie theatres now.
Why? What's the point of this, beyond making more money? It's so idiotic. Movie theatres are places where people take their kids for afternoon matinees, where people go to hang out as friends. Now they're going to be selling alcohol?
The arguments for this seem to be:
- alcohol will not be served to minors (yeah, right)
- there will be limits on consumption (hole punches on tickets)
- people will only be allowed to drink in the lobby
- live theatre venues serve liquor in the lobbies
Several problems.
First, we all know that restrictions on serving alcohol to minors don't work. Personally, I am all for getting rid of those laws altogether, and allowing everyone to be able to drink at any age. I think that by making alcohol forbidden fruit, we set up young people to sneakily indulge and abuse alcohol. But putting beer and wine coolers in a place where teenagers frequent and then making it unattainable only makes that problem worse. It's an even bigger temptation than it would normally be.
Secondly, the restrictions on consumption. I'm relieved by this, personally - nobody wants to go to the movies with a drunk. However, what is the restriction going to be? One drink? Two? Three? I know I can get drunk off one drink - there's no limit they can set that will keep everyone from over-indulging for their size and experience. One would hope that no one is going to be stupid about this - I know I certainly will never be drinking in a movie theatre - but you can't count on everyone to be smart about it.
Drinking only in the lobby? So when are people going to drink, exactly - after they get out of a showing, or before? People rushing to down alcoholic drinks so they can get into the theatre on time is really only going to worsen any possible problems with public intoxication.
And finally - the argument that live theatre venues serve alcohol. Yes, they do. However, live theatre-goers are almost all adults, except with specific exceptions, like the Christmas-time performances of the Nutcracker. Honestly, I don't like the idea of children being exposed to alcohol in a venue where it is undoubtedly going to be treated with less care than is really needed.
And as long as we're discussing theatre in general, I want to point out how theatre-going etiquette has deteriorated in the past several decades. Few people understand how to properly attend the theatre any more. People leave on their cell phones and pagers, leave half-way through performances, talk during performances, arrive and seat themselves late, eat in the theatre, and generally act as though shows are being put on for their pleasure only, with no responsibility on their part to show respect for the performers or their fellow audience members. People do not show their appreciation for the art of theatre anymore.
This has carried over to movie theatres, and it's appalling. Just because the actors are not there to hear your comments (and believe me, they can hear people talking in live theatre, and often exactly what people are saying), does not mean that it's perfectly okay for you to disrespect their work. Nor should you disrespect your fellow audience members. That means: don't talk; don't get up and leave unless you absolutely must (part of the problem is movie theatres no longer allow intermissions on long movies, so the weak-bladdered must be a tad rude); don't arrive late; don't leave your ringer on; and for god's sake - if you must eat, eat quietly. There's nothing more irritating than being stuck next to a popcorn-cruncher.
Serving alcohol in movie theatres, I think, is serving alcohol to audiences who've shown no particular affinity for the social sophistication and class it takes to consume alcohol sparingly.
I despair for future theatre-goers.
