# BYO Movie Snacks and Drinks-A Do or a Don't? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809 "2015-01-25T01:17:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/141 "2015-01-27T17:50:21Z")
> [@Jake\_Jones](#): > > Consider “popcorn” as a euphemism for all concessions if it makes you feel better, because that’s exactly how it was intended. Also consider the concept of captive audience. If you want to eat and drink in a movie, by agreement with the cinema, you are supposed to only eat and drink the shit they sell there. In most venues, that means they don’t have to produce a product that is impressive. “Doesn’t suck too bad” is usually sufficient. > > Despite \*\*histrionics \*\*like this: > > Most people who are physically capable of attending a movie in a cinema have the ability to abstain from eating and drinking for two hours or paying cinema concession prices. After reading this thread with accusations of theft, lack of ethics, lack of morals, etc., I think the use of the word histrionics in this case might threaten to peg out and blow up my irony meter. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/142 "2015-01-27T17:55:26Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Of course I talk on my phone at the movies. I also murder people because rules don’t apply to me. > > Cite that buying a ticket, entering into a contract, covers food and drink and not just watching the movie. _Passes Drunky a smuggled-in hot, buttered baby_ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/143 "2015-01-27T18:00:14Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Yeah, that’s called self entitlement. Of course, it’s self-entitlement. I feel I’m entitled to the same rights as everyone else is. I don’t understand people who feel they’re not entitled to equality. Why do you feel that you have to do what other people tell you, even when they’re just pushing you around for their own benefit? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/144 "2015-01-27T18:03:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And better for you than that chemical laden crap. It’s not better for you, nor is it any more or less chemically laden than movie theater topping. It’s just soybean oil with a flavoring that is found naturally in butter. They both have about the same caloric content. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/145 "2015-01-27T18:10:53Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I don’t get the problem with this. In the last few years, many theater chains absolutely allow food in the theater. I’ve walked into Arclight and Cinemark theaters here in CA also back on the east coast with my own food about half of the time I see a film (about 20-25 a year). I used to work for an AMC theater in the '80s, and they allow outside food now. In the 80s I worked at what was at the time the biggest chain in a 3 or 4 state region. Despite the fact that most of the profits came from concessions, official policy was that outside food was allowed in as long as it was similar to something we sold in the concession stand. The reasoning, as explained by our district manager, was that we were equipped to clean up after spilled popcorn, candy, etc., but didn’t have ready equipment to quickly clean up after a spilled chili dog. I wasn’t a problem at all. The concession stand still did plenty of business, even though people could openly bring their own snacks. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/146 "2015-01-27T18:29:25Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I think this is key to the whole discussion. I’d be interested to know exactly what percentage of theaters have a clear and unambiguous rule, displayed somewhere for customers to see, that outside food is prohibited. That’s another unclear thing too. I’ll say that most theaters don’t want outside food, but they don’t really prohibit it, do they? Ushers only look for alcohol or drugs to kick people out. They don’t exactly ask a woman and her 3-year-old kid to leave because the little kid only eats cheese crackers with peanut butter at the movies. But some people on this thread seem to give the impression that even if the theater DOES allow you to bring in your own food, you should still buy the concessions anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/147 "2015-01-27T18:57:14Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > But some people on this thread seem to give the impression that even if the theater DOES allow you to bring in your own food, you should still buy the concessions anyway. But the concessions don’t sell hot buttered babies. So now what do I do? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/148 "2015-01-27T19:00:47Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > _Passes Drunky a smuggled-in hot, buttered baby_ _Irish_ baby- with a side of taters. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/149 "2015-01-27T19:05:07Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > It’s not better for you, nor is it any more or less chemically laden than movie theater topping. It’s just soybean oil with a flavoring that is found naturally in butter. They both have about the same caloric content. > **[Hold the Butter: Artificial Flavoring on Popcorn Linked to Alzheimer's Disease](https://blog.aarp.org/bulletin-today/hold-the-butter-artificial-flavoring-on-popcorn-linked-to-alzheimers-disease)** > > Though I'm a pretty healthy eater most of the time, one of my few junk food weaknesses is movie theater popcorn -- and the more butter, the better. That oily, artificially flavored buttery topping is what makes the snack worthwhile! It's also what... > **[Why you should never eat movie theater popcorn](http://thespartandiet.blogspot.com/2010/03/why-you-should-never-eat-movie-theater.html)** > > Have you ever noticed that eating too much movie theater popcorn can make you feel a little sick ? That's because it probably is making you ... So, wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/150 "2015-01-27T19:16:19Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > [Hold the Butter: Artificial Flavoring on Popcorn Linked to Alzheimer's Disease](http://blog.aarp.org/2012/08/09/hold-the-butter-artificial-flavoring-on-popcorn-linked-to-alzheimers-disease/) > [The Spartan Diet: Why you should never eat movie theater popcorn](http://thespartandiet.blogspot.com/2010/03/why-you-should-never-eat-movie-theater.html) > > So, wrong. The first link is about diacetyl. You know, that stuff commonly found in butter. The second link was about movie theater popcorn in general and said very little about soybean oil vs. butter. What it does say is wrong - soybean oil in a liquid form is not hydrogenized. So, no. Try again. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/151 "2015-01-27T19:19:33Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Because the theater is gambling that you are not going to be able to resist temptation to buy snacks like you think you can. > > And even if you personally can, there are nine others like you who couldn’t. Unless of course they brought their own food. Then it’s easy to resist temptation. It is a given that I will not be buying from their concession stand. I will not pay those prices. I expect a mark up, but those are outrageous. I simply will not do it. If they charged a reasonable mark up, it would be different. So I will rephrase my question. How does my staying away from the theater help the theater? Is not better for theater to receive _some_ of my money rather than _none_ of it? I am OK with not going to the theater. All of these films are going to be available on netflix sooner or later. I can enjoy them in the comfort of my own home and pay nothing extra. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/152 "2015-01-27T19:23:59Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > The first link is about diacetyl. You know, that stuff commonly found in butter. > > The second link was about movie theater popcorn in general and said very little about soybean oil vs. butter. What it does say is wrong - soybean oil in a liquid form is not hydrogenized. > > So, no. Try again. Except that the amount of diacetyl is fake buttery stuff is 10X than in real butter. Also, not all movie theatre butter is soy oil based. Common is hydrogenated coconut oil. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/153 "2015-01-27T19:46:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Except that the amount of diacetyl is fake buttery stuff is 10X than in real butter. Also, not all movie theatre butter is soy oil based. Common is hydrogenated coconut oil. Coconut oil is a solid at room temp, and is used in cooking the popcorn, not as a topping. It certainly isn’t “common” as a topping, since it’s hard to pour a solid. Also, AMC and Cinemark, the two largest national chains, serve only vegan and transfat-free popcorn. And diacetyl is the natural byproduct of fermentation, and can be found in sour cream, yogurt, butter, buttermilk, beer, and countless other products. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/154 "2015-01-27T19:49:56Z")
I’ll read through this giant thread later, but I selected other because no I don’t bring in my own stuff because I actually buy it at the theater. The reason being that it’s always just me in the movies (no dates or anything Ms. Cups pays her own way) and I realize that food prices keep ticket prices down, so I just pay the money for a box of Raisenettes (or the cookie dough one) or Sour PAtch Kids and I get a medium soda (which is actually huge) and call it a day When I have kids/get married and pay for Ms. Cups? Then we can talk. But for right now I have no problem paying ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/155 "2015-01-27T19:56:23Z")
I usually don’t eat in the theater not so much because of the prices, but because of the serving sizes–I can barely finish a small popcorn, and a small drink is enormous (can’t even fathom trying to consume a Large of either). You’ll notice that most of the candy in a major chain is not the same size as in your 7-11; they’re also bigger and unique to those franchises (this from doing concession audits for years when I managed a theater). If I want a regular Snickers, my only choice is usually a mega-Snickers. Also, the food is almost unilaterally unhealthy. When I was married, my wife would sometimes smuggle food in her purse, but that usually meant a banana or regular nuts–things that weren’t available at the concession stand but also small and quiet. Is smuggling food in unethical? Yes. I don’t mind if some people smuggle a snack. But I’ve seen people bring in full meals, and the problem with that is that beyond it being unethical, it’s also rude, because that often does have an effect on the people around you. Outside meals (as opposed to snacks) are often more fragrant than theater food and there’s nothing quite like someone’s Mu Shu Pork wafting through your nostrils against your will. Also, outside meals tend to come in far noisier wrapping, with lots of crinkling and plastic-rubbing that also bothers other patrons. And don’t get me started on alcohol (or glass bottles that tip over and slowly roll their way down the sloped floor). That people want to go around the rules? _shrug_ It happens. That’s like going 5 miles over the speed limit. Wrong, but nothing I choose to get worked up about. But when people are obviously hungry for a full meal and go to greater lengths to break the rule and effect other people’s experiences negatively? Then you’re not just being unethical. You’re being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/156 "2015-01-27T20:32:16Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > I don’t mind if some people smuggle a snack. But I’ve seen people bring in full meals, and the problem with that is that beyond it being unethical, it’s also rude, because that often does have an effect on the people around you. Outside meals (as opposed to snacks) are often more fragrant than theater food and there’s nothing quite like someone’s Mu Shu Pork wafting through your nostrils against your will. Also, outside meals tend to come in far noisier wrapping, with lots of crinkling and plastic-rubbing that also bothers other patrons. And don’t get me started on alcohol (or glass bottles that tip over and slowly roll their way down the sloped floor). None of that has anything to do with theater profit margins, and the “ethics” of same that one or two people imagine. Disturbing people during the show, by any means, is just rude, and that’s all it takes to be unacceptable. Also, I disagree that “outside” snacks are typically noisier; the only times I can recall being annoyed by the sounds of other people eating, I think it was always the theater’s own candy. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/157 "2015-01-27T20:46:19Z")
> [@Jake\_Jones](#): > > When Adobe starts to offer a full version of Photoshop at a more reasonable price, they might find more profit at the bottom of that well, but they haven’t made the transition yet, and maybe never will. It’s not exactly a “full version,” but Photoshop Elements is pretty impressive for under $100. I’m a graphic designer, so I’ve always used the full version, but one of my co-workers used to teach a class that transitioned from using the full version to Elements and he was pretty impressed by the functionality the cheap version retained. Of course it doesn’t have all the features of the full version, but most people only use a very small portion of the available features in a program as vast as Photoshop. If you’re a designer that needs the full version, you probably have it (or it’s worthwhile to invest in it). For the casual user, it pretty much fits the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/158 "2015-01-27T21:15:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Of course, it’s self-entitlement. I feel I’m entitled to the same rights as everyone else is. > > I don’t understand people who feel they’re not entitled to equality. Why do you feel that you have to do what other people tell you, even when they’re just pushing you around for their own benefit? There you go with “rights” again. What the heck are you talking about? Going to the movies in NOT an inalienable right. I mean shoot, if a theater wanted to make a policy banning any shirts displaying the American flag on it they could. And I also don’t understand why you bring “equality” into this discussion. All patrons have to follow the same set of rules, THAT’S equality. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/159 "2015-01-27T22:13:21Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Also, I disagree that “outside” snacks are typically noisier; the only times I can recall being annoyed by the sounds of other people eating, I think it was always the theater’s own candy. That’s why I specifically made the distinction between snacks and meals. It’s when people bring in take-out bags, clamshell containers, and other bulkier items is when they get noisier (and smellier). Just a snack smuggled in will make the same amount of noise, but those who bring in a lot more than just that can also be counted on making a larger production of it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809/160 "2015-01-28T01:54:16Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > So I will rephrase my question. How does my staying away from the theater help the theater? Is not better for theater to receive _some_ of my money rather than _none_ of it? I am OK with not going to the theater. All of these films are going to be available on netflix sooner or later. I can enjoy them in the comfort of my own home and pay nothing extra. Dude, take a fucking hint. No one wants to answer your question because it’s too hard. It’s an easy debate when people say, “Yeah, I saw the sign, but I’m a fucking douche and I do what I want.” It’s a far more difficult question to answer whether you should stay home if the thatre’s only getting 30% of your ticket price. In a sold-out movie, yes, the theatre would prefer a concession-buyer in that seat. But MOST showings do not sell out. Does the theatre still want you there, even with smuggled food? I think so. I think that’s why they make no attempt to enforce their rules. My concern is viability of my local theatre. My town had 4 drive-ins 40 years ago. Now there aren’t any. I want my multiplex to survive. Which is why I recommend food-smugglers still go, but go at a later week, so the theatre makes what they can off your ticket. From an economic and logical, but not ethical, standpoint: smugglers are the same as abstainers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/byo-movie-snacks-and-drinks-a-do-or-a-dont/710809.md?page=9)