# Poll: drinking at the movies. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671 "2007-03-05T13:33:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/41 "2007-03-06T08:32:20Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] flounce those rules [/QUOTE] Flaunt. Flounce means to storm off in a huff. Is it really _illegal_, or is it just against the cinema rules? ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/42 "2007-03-06T09:39:07Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Flaunt. Flounce means to storm off in a huff. Is it really _illegal_, or is it just against the cinema rules? [/QUOTE] A) US of A is big and different locations have different laws (public drinking is verbotten in most places) B) When I was a kid two people got arrested for bringing their own popcorn into the theater. They are private property and can set the rules the way they want. And where’s the Pulp Fiction quote people? > [@Vincent](#): > > Alright, well you can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don’t mean just like in no paper cup, I’m talking about a glass of beer. And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald’s. And you know what they call a, uh, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris? They sell cans of beer and beer on tap, here. There are bars in the waiting areas of theatres that you can get a cocktail, or order a bottle of wine. Some of the newer places have premium seating where you get cushy seats with a small table to put your food and drinks, and a waiter brings everything for you…Sorta cool. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/43 "2007-03-06T09:39:09Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Why on earth should someone “start acting rudely” because they’re drinking a can of beer? [/QUOTE] What **Rodgers01** said. Opening a beer at the movies is against societal norms, and when people break societal norms you don’t know what _other_ societal norms they’re about to break. If a guy walked around naked at the store I’d keep away from him, and keep any children I happened to bring with me even further away from him, and not because being naked causes someone to do bad things. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/44 "2007-03-06T09:41:12Z")
Addition to clarify: at a movie theatre where it was allowed to drink beer and/or which served beer, I would have no problem with it. It’s not the beer in itself. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/45 "2007-03-06T10:03:03Z")
[QUOTE=Tomcat] They sell cans of beer and beer on tap, here. There are bars in the waiting areas of theatres that you can get a cocktail, or order a bottle of wine. Some of the newer places have premium seating where you get cushy seats with a small table to put your food and drinks, and a waiter brings everything for you…Sorta cool. [/QUOTE] Minus the waiters, it’s the same here. Concession stands all sell beer in addition the other snacks, and some of the downtown theaters sell wine as well. Every restaurant from the five-star gourmet joints to back-alley noodle stands to McDonalds sells alcohol as well. Anyway, to the OP, if I happened to be in a theater that didn’t allow beer, I probably still wouldn’t care about someone else having one if they weren’t getting obnoxious. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/46 "2007-03-06T20:49:48Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Flaunt. Flounce means to storm off in a huff. [/QUOTE] :smack: I knew that. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/47 "2007-03-06T21:28:19Z")
No, of course I wouldn’t say anything. And the folks who are saying, “He’s drinking a beer! Who knows what depravity he is capable of?” strike me as a mite uptight. When I used to drink, I’d regularly bring a couple of beers to the movies. Or a flask. I remember taking my flask to the opera and the ballet, so I assume I’d take it to the movies! The most troublesome thing about beers in the theaters is if you bring bottles and happen to knock over an empty - no telling how far that sucker is gonna roll. Of course I remember a depraved youth lighting up during “The Kids Are Allright.” And one time my 2 buddies and I snuck a case into “The Electric Horseman.” You know the scene - middle of summer, but we are wearing and carrying heavy jackets chock full of beers. My one buddy and I got through no problem, and I remember the 3d man got stopped. They took all his beers but let him in the show. And my other buddy and i were jerks and wouldn’t give him any of our beers (we only had 18, and needed to make them last for the entire show!) for the longest time. Strangely enough I can’t quite remember what the show was about… Way back when - in the 60s, I remember there was no prohibition against bringing in food or drink at the local theater (The Will Rogers). My parents would give each of us a quarter, and we’d stop at the Walgreens and get a pretty decent amount of candy for that amount. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/48 "2007-03-06T21:57:06Z")
[QUOTE=Doctor Who] At about the halfway mark, I reach for another beer and accidentally knock one of the empty cans over. It flops on its side and STARTS TO ROLL. And it rolls and rolls and rolls all the way down that subtle incline. Slowly. Slowly. Loudly. Loudly. It trickles all the way down underneath the seats and ALL THE WAY to the very front of the theater. :eek: I swear it took five full minutes to get down there. [/QUOTE] My brother had that happen to him- only it was a bottle. :eek: He tried to get a pissed-off look on his face and turned to glare at the folks a few rows back… but it didn’t work, because they were laughing and so was he. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/49 "2007-03-06T21:58:44Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] And one time my 2 buddies and I snuck a case into “The Electric Horseman.” … Strangely enough I can’t quite remember what the show was about… [/QUOTE] It’s probably [better](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079100/) that way! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/50 "2007-03-07T00:03:06Z")
[QUOTE=Tomcat] A) US of A is big and different locations have different laws (public drinking is verbotten in most places) B) When I was a kid two people got arrested for bringing their own popcorn into the theater. They are private property and can set the rules the way they want. -Tcat [/QUOTE] I’m curious about this. I can see them kicking you out of the theater, but having you arrested? That seems a bit extreme. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/51 "2007-03-10T18:25:28Z")
[QUOTE=Renee] I’m curious about this. I can see them kicking you out of the theater, but having you arrested? That seems a bit extreme. [/QUOTE] As I recall they refused to leave or throw it away. I even think they lost the court battle. It was a long time ago in Denver…I can’t google-fu it. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/52 "2007-03-11T18:38:54Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Flaunt. Flounce means to storm off in a huff. Is it really _illegal_, or is it just against the cinema rules? [/QUOTE] Um, I think you both meant “flout”. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/53 "2007-03-11T18:54:54Z")
I once got hassled about smuggling booze into a movie theater, so I went out the next day and got myself a [Beerbelly!!](http://www.thebeerbelly.com/)😛 ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/54 "2007-03-11T19:07:26Z")
Wouldn’t bother me in the least. I wouldn’t care if he got falling-down drunk, as long as he stayed quiet and in his seat, and had a ride after the movie was done. Some people smuggle candy into the movie. Do the same people who are trembling at the thought of someone drinking a beer because of how it flouts the rules have a similar reaction to a soccer mom doling out contraband M&M’s to her kids? Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/55 "2007-03-12T04:59:45Z")
[QUOTE=Stratocaster] Do the same people who are trembling at the thought of someone drinking a beer because of how it flouts the rules have a similar reaction to a soccer mom doling out contraband M&M’s to her kids? [/QUOTE] Damn straight. One minute it’s M&M’s, the next she’s passing out roofies and Mitsubishis, and before the coming attractions are halfway finished, it’s bedlam. Human sacrifice, cannibalism, tax evasion, tags ripped from mattresses, all erupting around you when you’re struggling not to miss any of the Byzantine intricacies of “Scary Movie 12.” It’s a very slippery slope, my friends—and all the more so when it’s drenched with spilled Rolling Rock. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/56 "2007-03-12T05:24:37Z")
[QUOTE=capybara] I think that the lack of booze at the theater is the last remaining gap between European civilization and the US. At least I live in the northwest where these things exist (theater-pubs). Do they exist much elsewhere (I know there’s at least Bear’s in Bloomington (THANK GOD) but is it rare, still?)? [/QUOTE] I hear that you can get a glass of Beer at McDonalds in Amsterdam; I’m not sure about Burger King though… I don’t know anyone who ever ate at Burger King. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/57 "2007-03-12T12:02:59Z")
Uhm… can I eat my _almendras garrapiñadas_? (Sorry, don’t know how to say it in English, they’re a sort of hard-candy-covered almonds) They’re even from the concession stand, and no wrapper, but for some reason they use these bags that are kind of noisy. Sorry! When I know beforehand I’m going to one of the theaters that sell those, I bring another bag with me to pour them from the original one to the silent one. If they were making a lot of noise I might say something. I’ve been in theaters where a cellphone rang and was met with a chorus of “that phone!”… at which point several people took theirs out and there was a second chorus of tirulirus that should have happened before the movie started 😛 So long as they’re not making noise, no problem. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/58 "2007-03-12T12:42:03Z")
We take our own junk food into the movie theater all the time. Yeah, it’s against the rules, but no one’s ever said anything to us. I can’t imagine that taking a beer in would be any worse. I’d like to see the theater’s get _less_ uptight about stuff like this (although at our local theater, they kinda wink and smile about it) and _more_ uptight about assholes talking and playing games on their cell phones during the film. ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/59 "2007-03-12T13:01:47Z")
We used to take a bottle of wine and two glasses to the cinema. Treat the place like Glyndebourne. ---
**Author:** ![2pelo\_honey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/ecb155/32.png) [@2pelo\_honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2pelo_honey)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671/60 "2007-03-12T18:26:03Z")
[QUOTE=FRDE] We used to take a bottle of wine and two glasses to the cinema. Treat the place like Glyndebourne. [/QUOTE] 😉 I’ve done that, too…makes a nice romantic kind of picnic theme! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-drinking-at-the-movies/394671.md?page=4)