Proposal would allow theaters to sell beer and wine
SEATTLE -- Some local theater owners say being able to serve beer and wine would help keep them in business, but not everyone is sold on the idea.
At the West Lenin Theater in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, the cast of "Beating up Bachman" is rehearsing for opening night. But the only wine you'll find in the performance theater is a prop bottle.
Theater owner AJ Epstein said the law currently prohibits him from serving beer and wine, and that leads to smaller theater companies taking their business elsewhere.
"They said, 'Ya know, what our audience wants is a drink (and) we're not going to be able to sell tickets unless they can have a drink,'" Epstein said.
Small theaters across the state are now asking the legislature to create a special liquor license that would allow them to serve beer and wine during a performance.
"There's no reason why they shouldn't be able to take their beer or wine to their seat and enjoy their movie," Epstein said.
A bill introduced by State Rep. Jim Moeller aims to help small, historic theaters serve alcohol without requiring food service or completely banning minors. He said each business would be responsible for keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors.
"The liquor control commission is going to be looking at that plan to make sure the people under the age of 21 don't get access to alcohol," Moeller said.
Despite plans to keep minors from drinking, not everyone is sold on the idea.
"I'm not sure if I feel comfortable for kids to be around that in an enclosed area," said Fremont resident Holy Betz.
Others, such as Frank Outhet, fully support the idea.
"For me, I would love it," Outhet said. "I think more of my adult friends would go in and the movie business would increase."
For Epstein, serving beer and wind means making ends meet.
"If I can legally serve alcohol, I'm going to be able to have four or five events a week," he said. "That means I can actually take home a pay check. For a small businessman, that's everything."
At the West Lenin Theater in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, the cast of "Beating up Bachman" is rehearsing for opening night. But the only wine you'll find in the performance theater is a prop bottle.
Theater owner AJ Epstein said the law currently prohibits him from serving beer and wine, and that leads to smaller theater companies taking their business elsewhere.
"They said, 'Ya know, what our audience wants is a drink (and) we're not going to be able to sell tickets unless they can have a drink,'" Epstein said.
Small theaters across the state are now asking the legislature to create a special liquor license that would allow them to serve beer and wine during a performance.
"There's no reason why they shouldn't be able to take their beer or wine to their seat and enjoy their movie," Epstein said.
A bill introduced by State Rep. Jim Moeller aims to help small, historic theaters serve alcohol without requiring food service or completely banning minors. He said each business would be responsible for keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors.
"The liquor control commission is going to be looking at that plan to make sure the people under the age of 21 don't get access to alcohol," Moeller said.
Despite plans to keep minors from drinking, not everyone is sold on the idea.
"I'm not sure if I feel comfortable for kids to be around that in an enclosed area," said Fremont resident Holy Betz.
Others, such as Frank Outhet, fully support the idea.
"For me, I would love it," Outhet said. "I think more of my adult friends would go in and the movie business would increase."
For Epstein, serving beer and wind means making ends meet.
"If I can legally serve alcohol, I'm going to be able to have four or five events a week," he said. "That means I can actually take home a pay check. For a small businessman, that's everything."
For all those commenting here about it should be allowed, "there are R rated movies" - re-read the story. The theatre in question here is hosting a LIVE PERFORMANCE, NOT a movie. So conceiveably there could be children in the audience, and there is no "ratings system" like there is for movies. Considering the average cost of a live performance ticket, I sure as hell would not want to pay good money only to be seatted next to someone sloshing their booze around, especiually since seats are assigned - it's not like you can get up & move.
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Hello, it's no different than going to the nutcracker at Christmas time.
Why do people need to drink outside their homes? Do they think being intoxicated around other makes them desirable?
 @Half-Baked Wow! Really? You think every person who goes out to drink gets intoxicated? So by your logic, every person who goes to a bar is stupid! Seriously, you need to come to reality!
Just because you're out in public having a drink doesn't mean you're intoxicated. Personally I only drink outside my home because I'm a social drinker and even when I'm out with friends it's still pretty rare. It's all about having fun with other people, maybe you should try it sometime.Â
You look stupid if you dont realize
People already can't sit still or shut up for 2 hours, and you want to give them drinks?Â
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@lakeview I dont neccesarily agree with allowing alcohol in theaters but I dont think the state has any business telling a business what to do.
Don't you have to be 21 to serve beer and wine? So all these 16 year old kids working their first jobs are going to be replaced by Joe Dirt and Bertha..... Make a lobby Bar and keep the booze to rated R movies kids don't need to listening to Bob burping in the corner after chugging his paps blue ribbon....
No under age can serve it they just can't open it for them
Hmmm so we can expect bottled or can beer...No taps and wine that comes in a 8 oz bottle with a twist top....That will attract some quality individulas
A theater should be allowed to serve wine and beer IF they only allow 21 and over in the establishment. Sure, kids under 21 can be in a restaurant that serves alcohol but employees can actually keep an eye on those kids to make sure they don't drink. Can the same be said for a dark theater?
Sad that alcoholics can't go a couple hours without a drink.
@Klondiko YEP
@Klondiko
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Sad that someone canât enjoy a drink while watching a movie without people calling them alcoholics
WHY YOU NEED DRINK TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOUSELF? dig deeper!
@Half-Baked I don't, in fact I only have about 4 or 5 drinks on average not per day, or per month but yes per year.
Why do you feel the need to yell at a ramdom strainger on a comment board? Did someone steal your lunch money today??? :-(
I've been to movie theaters back east that serve wine, beer, food, etc and there were no problems other than the mark up on the stuff is 800%
@Handsup70  We have them here too. Go to Cinetopia. I love the Movie Parlor. They bring me food and alcohol while I watch the movie.Â
So, not only does the general public now have to worry about drunks at all the sporting events, but we can't take our children to a theater w/out seeing asinine behavior? What kind of idiot would venture the thought of allowing alcohol in a dark theater that is open to minors? Stupid, stupid, stupid society!Â
@takncarabizniz  You can already have alcohol in certain areas of Cinetopia which are limited to 21yo and older. I prefer this since I dont have to listen to your screamin brats.
 @takncarabizniz I'm glad you like the government restricting your freedom of choice. I hope you support every measure the government promotes to help protect you from yourself.
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I personally don't see the big deal with this other than yes, it would stink pretty badly if it were to be spilled on the floor. I mean think about it people, if a pop costs almost $10 just think of how much they're going to charge for beer and wine and it'll probably be crappy stuff on top of that so they can get the biggest amount of profit possible. Not many people are even going to be willing to spend that much. Plus if you don't think people are already sneaking it in your extremely naive.
They serve beer and wine at ball games, you can get hard liquor in bowling alleys and they even serve it at high end cultural events so whatâs the difference?
I find this amusing. The majority of you here voted happily for legal pot, and by that nature would vote for legalization of alcohol as well if it had been prohibited. Now business want to make money on such things and you have a problem with it? You don't get it both ways guys. Things are either legal or they are not. So which is it?Â
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The short and quick answer is stay home. Its the same thing many of you said when they banned smoking from the bars. "If you don't want to work around smoke, then don't work their".Â
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This is simply no different. And for those joking about smoking weed in local establishments, That too is coming soon. One local bar is suing for the rights to do just that.   The gene gave a man six wishes. Do you really want those wishes, because everyone of them will come true, and there is no going back once that wish is made.Â
@snow surfer:And how do YOU know (or presume to know) who voted what way on which issue?
 @snow surfer The real issue here should be the ridiculous mark up in price... I mean why the heck should I have to pay 10 bucks for some bud light.... I vote that to be illegal
@snow surfer BS !!!!
Dumb, Dumb, Dumb idea. Get a better life if you cant function without alcohol for a few hours.
For Epstrein, serving beer and wind means making ends meet.
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How does serving beer and * wind * make ends meet?
The theater should also provide a smoking room so people can smoke a doobie before the show. I know I would attend more shows that way.
 Dumbest idea ever.
Seriously? You can't watch a movie without booze? What the heck are we teaching our kids?Â
@ObsidianOneÂ
What's the difference between this and going to a ball game, or going to the bowling alley or even better yet going to Chuck E Cheese? Besides that fact who's busy checking out what other people in the theater are eating and drinking?
Oh, and it's teaching kids something that they should already know, that adults are allowed to drink beer and wine
 @mickey602:Â
I agree with your "what's the difference", but for an entirely different reason.
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We allow booze in all the venues you mention.Â
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What we are teaching our children that alcohol is overly abundent, and it's okay to over-imbibe in public and the drive yourself home.Â
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We are also teaching tham that NOTHING can be "gotten through" without a drink - a sad lesson.
@LocalLady @mickey602:
Yes, you're right the world will come to an end if adults are allowed to legally have an overpriced drink in a theater. (Please note the sarcastic tone)
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Believe me,no one is going to get sloshing drunk at the prices they're going to be charging....and again if you don't think it's already being snuck in you're extremely naive.
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There is nothing wrong with having a drink or two and I don't know why you're treating like it's something that's illlegal to do. Trust me the kids will be OK seeing people doing something that's perfectly legal.
Mickey, perhaps the fact that owners and operators wouldn't have to trying to keep an eye on who's passing the bottle inside a darkened theater...
I happen to think that serving alcohol at ballparks is stupid as well, as you potentially put the lives of your own children at risk when you get behind the wheel after the game!Â
 @thyroi;Â
That, of they have to tunr in the keys as they enter )(EVERYONE, no exceptions) and to get them back you have to blow a clean breathalizer.
 @mickey602:Â
Like the Bellevue Cop last fgall who was drunk and cannot recall drivin all the way home to North bend? Yep, I sure feel safer now!
@takncarabizniz You are such a nanny state nitwit. Go away.
Like drunken Bellevue police officers at a game?
 Perhaps they should close down bars and night clubs, that is where most of the DUI offenders are coming from!!
No more booze with live music allowed!
Seems kind of stupid now don't it.
And that would affect you how?
Oh and there's these people out there called designated drivers that drive home after someone else has been drinking too much.
 @ObsidianOne Did everyone commenting here pretty much miss that this isn't about "movie" theaters?
It specifically indicates that this is for small theaters that don't serve food and references West Lenin Theater. This has nothing to do with selling beer at your local multiplex, but rather letting people have a glass of wine or a beer while watching a play or concert in a small theater.
@Protagonist  I had seen that and my inital posts we talking about "shows" but when responding to people talking about movies, I used the movie description.
Protagonist...you really haven't been paying attention then. This is not the first story on this and YES the push will be to allow it in ALL theaters...remember, you have to get your foot in the door before you can sell an overpriced vacuum...
@ObsidianOne  I can watch a movie without booze but I have to get high first.
For a 2 hr period, people need to drink booze in a theater? You can drink before or after a show. Spilled beer or wine smells up the place and more booze breath. Seeing a movie is a family event. I would not mind if it was served at Rated X movies since you have to be of adult age. Booze is sold everywhere, and it doesn't need to be sold at the standard movie theater. An exception would be the theaters that serve dinners like the Gold Cinemas in Redmond. I'd rather see booze served at Walmart and Target then at the movies.Â
So is bowling or going to Chuck E Cheese and yet bowling alleys serve hard liquor and Chuck serves beer and wine. I guarantee you that there will be less served at a movie theater in one month then either one of those two serves in just one day.
 @tmanch Seeing a movie is not just a family event. There are R Rated dramas, action or comedies, that are not appropriate for children, and some adults either go by themselves or don't take their kid(s) to every single movie. Personally, I wouldn't buy booze at a theater because I'm sure it's going to be more expensive than at a sporting event, but if someone does, I have no issue with it.
 @tmanch I would rather let the business decide that for themselves than the state.
I go to Gold Cinemas in Redmond and Cinebarre in Mount Lake Terrace, they both serve alcohol and I have been to over 20 movies at these theaters and their has never been a issue with people being drunk or annoying. It not like people don't sneak it and drink before the show. and if it freaks people out maybe shows after 8pm can serve so all you people who thinks a few drinks will turn people into zombies can get home before the sun goes down.
 @futhi151 I have been to a few as well the drinks aren't cheap enough to get drunk on.  Good idea on time but just leave the decision of what time to sell or not to the owners and not the state.