The New York State Liquor Authority dominated that film theaters can now promote wine and beer at concession stands and the drinks might be taken into the theaters.
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Let’s all go to the foyer, let’s all go to the foyer, let’s all go to the foyer to get ourselves a … beer.
Cinemas can now serve wine and beer at concession stands and movie-goers are allowed to take their drinks into the theater for the present, the State Liquor Authority dominated in a unanimous vote Wednesday.
Beforehand, theaters might solely promote the drinks if that they had a restaurant license with a full kitchen and waitstaff to carry the alcohol to prospects of their seats — or a tavern license that restricted ingesting to a desk, typically within the foyer.
“Proper now they’re having to eat [drinks] in a short time within the foyer, which isn't an excellent factor,” Joe Masher, Chief Working Officer at Bow Tie Cinemas, instructed the board earlier than the vote.
Masher, who runs theaters that serve wine and beer upstate, mentioned there’s by no means been an over-serving downside at any of the cinemas.
“We’ve by no means had a problem in any of our theaters … not a single incident,” he mentioned.
Underneath the brand new rule, cinemas serving simply popcorn and different snacks can now additionally promote wine, beer and cider so long as it isn’t the companies’ “prime income.” Theaters beforehand might solely promote alcohol if that they had a restaurant or tavern license.
Arduous liquor gross sales are nonetheless not permitted until they've a restaurant license and serve the drinks on the moviegoer’s seat, as does the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Downtown Brooklyn and a handful of different chains.
Tim League, proprietor of the Alamo, mentioned he welcomes the competitors and doesn’t plan to vary his meals and drink-selling mannequin.
“[We] constructed our enterprise with a major understanding, beer goes very nicely with motion pictures,” he instructed The Submit. “I’ve all the time had an ‘all ships rise’ philosophy in direction of the cinema business, so I’m glad that different venues in New York will have the ability to supply this amenity now.”
Even with modifications brewing, he mentioned his theater will nonetheless be among the many few within the metropolis that promote arduous liquor and restaurant-quality meals alongside the silver display.
“There are nonetheless lots of issues that set us aside: cocktails sure, however no ads, good meals constituted of scratch,” he mentioned — including he plans to maintain Alamo’s kitchen though it’s now not required to serve beer in theaters.
“[We’re] staying the course! We’ve served meals since 1997; it’s who we're,” he mentioned.
On Wednesday, the board authorized the measure after members of the Nationwide Affiliation of Film Theatre Homeowners argued that their business needs to be granted the identical drinks-serving privileges that different nonrestaurant companies, together with hair salons, artwork studios and retail areas have.
The change goes into impact instantly but it surely could possibly be months earlier than film buffs see alcohol at their native theaters because of the licensing course of, in line with the board.
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