There’s usually enough room in our theaters that I wouldn’t be right up on anyone, so if I can’t smell the beer it wouldn’t bother me. I probably wouldn’t even notice. And no, I wouldn’t report anyone who had outside food or drink.
Wow, I cannot believe that little twerp did that!!! I’d’ve had a hard time ignoring him after that, have to say…that’s insane, especially w/ him telling you not to fuck w/ him!!! :mad:
Myself, I wouldn’t ever complain about something along those lines, unless the perp started doing something obnoxious, which you wouldn’t want to deal w/ in a theater anyway, alcohol or not. Additionally, we’ve done it many times, w/ nary a problem, but learned once the hard way never to put the empty cans on the floor, cuz if you accidently kick them, they make alot of noise rolling downhill. 
I doubt I would even notice, unless they were close enough I could smell it. But no I wouldn’t say anything about it if I did notice.
It would annoy the piss out of me if I could smell it; I hate the smell of alcohol. I wouldn’t say anything, though–not liking the smell is my issue, not theirs, and there are plenty of other movie-theater smells that I don’t like (hot dogs, for instance). I’d move if it really bothered me.
A large chain of movie theatres near us just got approved for their liquor license. I have to admit I never thought about drinking at a movie theatre before but why not? I could use a glass of wine with that Oscar winning performance. Then again I don’t go to the movies that often because I would rather watch it at home on the comfy couch with whatever pauses and food I want for 1/4 the price.
Anyway, I wouldn’t report someone for doing anything that didn’t affect my movie experience, even then, it has to be pretty bad before I will get up and report someone. So I wouldn’t care.
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?)?
There’s a movie theater in my area that has a “premier level” that serves alcoholic beverages in addition to having nicer seating and a guaranteed “center screen” view. (It’s essentially a balcony placed over the back of the center section of a handful of their theaters.) There’s nothing more satisfying than enjoying a Guinness with my popcorn while watching a silly movie.
The Tivoli Theatre near me sells beer & wine. I think it’s about $4 for a glass of wine or beer.
I never drink when I go there anyway though. If I did, I’d never make it through the movie without getting up to pee at least once. I hate doing that.
It would never occur to me to be bothered by someone sneaking a drink into a movie theater. I probably wouldn’t even notice unless they were sitting right next to me.
I definitely wouldn’t rat them out. I have taken a soda or two into theaters, and as long as they are quiet, it is cool…
Brendon
I wouldn’t care unless they started getting annoying.
Fortunately for me there is a restaurant right next to my local movie-plex so me and the buddies pop in there and usually get a shot and a beer before the movie. We also all go to the restroom before hand to pre-empt any needs later on.
Another one who wouldn’t even notice, and wouldnt’ care if I did. I would be mopre annoyed at the pot because everything smells like pot once you smoke it, and I don’t care to have my hair reeking.
Some Spanish dude next to me in the cinema in Dublin pulled out a six-pack and drank the entire lot during the movie. He finished a big 7-Up first, and decanted the beer into the cup.
None of my business at all.
I did, however, care when he started taking calls on his cellphone. But I’m British, so I didn’t confront him, but instead gave him a Hard Stare and composed angry letters to the editor of The Times in my head.
You can buy beer at most cinemas here. When I was visiting a friend in Texas we saw King Kong in a theater that served real food and drinks, including cocktails and beer. Perfect setting to see a movie that’s supposed to take place in the 1930s.
Here in Thailand, too, cans of beer are sold at the concession stand.
Now, I like my beer as much as the next guy, maybe more, but I hate missing anything of a movie, so I never buy beer at the concession stand, lest I should have to run out to the john and miss something.
Small side note: Seats are always assigned in Thai movie theaters – or “cinemas” as they’re called here, after the British fashion. You choose your seats when buying the ticket, and your seat number is on the ticket. It always feels weird now when we go to the U.S. and just walk into a theater and sit down anywhere we want.
I agree with Colophon. A beer is just a drink - one or two isn’t neccessarily going to affect someone’s attitude.
Besides, why would anyone even want to get drunk in an environment where you’re not allowed to make noise or move around? Drunkenness and sitting still silently are not two things that mix, at least for me.
Because after the movie, you’re primed for partying.
[my beer-drinking, movie theater story]
So this one time, my buddy and I are drinking a few beers and watching a movie. It was “O Brother Where Art Thou.” We’re sitting in the back - there aren’t too many people in the theater with us, and we’re having an enjoyable time.
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.
I felt bad, because I really didn’t want to disturb anyone - I just wanted to have a beer or two with my buddy. Luckily, nobody gave a shit. In fact, there were a few giggles sputtering from several people around the theater. My buddy was fully wheezing and crying with laughter.
It’s a good thing Trunk’s “pal” wasn’t in there - or he might have had to do a citizen’s arrest!
[/my beer-drinking movie theater story]
Because in the vast majority of theaters in the US it’s illegal, and furthermore it’s against societal norms, so it’s arguably rude. So if you have someone willing to flounce those rules, it’s not unreasonable to suspect that they might break other rules and “start acting rudely.” It’s not alcohol phobia; just different cultures, different contexts.
So, like PriceGuy I wouldn’t turn anyone in, but I’d be a bit irritated and wonder what else the guy would do. (Certainly wouldn’t act like the guy did to Trunk.)
Is “shorts” what Australians call the previews/coming attractions, or do they actually show movie shorts in theaters down there?
There are a number of smallish theaters in my area that have gone the pub route, with sofas replacing the foldup seats, full bars and nice menus.
Although I appreciate the financial predicament that independent businesses face, I’m also a creature of habit and persist in my habit of bringing a flask of brandy in for purposes of economically enhancing my viewing pleasure.
In general I eschew the megachain theaters (despite continuing to screw the indies out of their bar tabs). But on the Saturday before Oscar night my girlfriend and I bought tickets to a special 10-hour screening of all five Best Picture nominees at one of the nearby stadium seating complexes. And I was expecting to be trapped into buying their absurd concession candy for meals, but they very generously allowed us full come-and-go rights, including permission to bring in food from the nearby restaurants. I was impressed. And hammered.
I would certainly have no problem with someone drinking a beer, be it an outside beer or not. I might ask him to share, or offer to buy one of them. Even if I wasn’t drinking, I would have a problem with someone who started some stink over someone who was.