Nitehawk Cinema Fights For Right To Serve Booze During Movies

At Nitehawk Cinema, pictured here, drinking during movies is not allowed...yet. (Kyle Dean Reinford)

Drinking during the movies is a longstanding, widely beloved practice dating back to the advent of movie theaters. Sadly, the SLA makes it hard to legally indulge in a tipple theater-side, which has forced generations of moviegoers to smuggle booze in with vulgar plastic water bottles. Until now!

We recently spoke to Matthew Viragh, the owner of Williamsburg's Nitehawk Cinema, who has been working to overturn a state law barring alcohol in movie theaters. Nitehawk, which has a refined food menu created by the Vanderbilt's Saul Bolton, has a bar in the lobby area, but is not allowed to dole out drinks in the actual theater. Although a special exception appears to have been granted during a recent screening of TV on the Radio's Nine Types of Light, during which beer (but no spirits) was served.

Viragh says he's been working with community board and the SLA and should be serving up in-theater drinks (including cocktails) by the end of the month. "It's what we were set up for," he says. "It's going to make our entire space function as one." Guests will be able to bring a drink they ordered in the lobby into the theater, or order drinks and food from their seats during the film. "We also try to create food and drink specials inspired by the films we're showing, and that will probably have more resonance now that you can enjoy a cocktail while watching the movie," says Viragh.

Since the repeal of Prohibition, New York has permitted drinks to be served in all theaters except those showing movies, an SLA spokesman told the Times. Fingers crossed (and flasks safely tucked away) that Viragh's appeal goes as planned, and that more theaters (we're looking at you, reRun) will start pouring out the good stuff.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jamie Feldmar in Food on September 16, 2011 3:22 PM

Comments [rss]

RammyH

I for one consider watching a movie in a theater the main point of the evening - I want to be sober and fully alert and engrossed in what's happening in the screen. The booze is for afterwards.

Sitting at home in front of the lcd - I will absolutely knock back a few drinks. But between the couch and the drinking and the nibbling that I do in the comfort of my own home, I know I'm giving most movies I watch at home the short shrift.

M

The Brew and View in Chicago was (is?) an incredible institution. We need that.

brian

meh, cheaper to BYOB anyway

pendejito

Exactly. Whats wrong with people just BYOB'ing. If I already smuggle bottles of beer into bars, why would I BUY beer at this movie theater.

Sulayman

What a bad idea. The last thing NYC needs is rowdy drunk people in the same movie theater as those who want to watch quietly.

taracorinne

Theatres serving booze and food INSIDE the movie theatre have existed successfully in other states for years. In Texas, the famed Alamo Drafthouse chain does quite well, and in a college town like Austin full of drunk college students, it doesn't create any more harm than the same kids getting rowdy at a bar. Plus, the higher costs of the drinks generally stop people from going $7 pitcher crazy, a'la Rudy's style.

soothsayer

i think any establishment without a liquor license can skirt around SLA laws by putting up a simple screen and calling itself a "movie theater" and thus be able to serve alcohol.

any 120yr old in here remember the raines law?
The Raines law was passed on March 23, 1896 by NYS prohibiting sale of alcohol on Sunday except for hotels. And any business was considered a hotel if it had 10 rooms for lodging and served sandwiches with its liquor. Saloons quickly found a loophole by adding small furnished bedrooms and applying for a hotel license.

mlleBeth

The difference, I beleive, is that nighthawk does have a liquor license.

LIC_dood

S4772-2011 Actions

Aug 17, 2011: SIGNED CHAP.475Aug 5, 2011: DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR

Seems to have been already signed into law? and tough break for reRun, considering the legislation requires all "ALL SEATING IS AT
TABLES WHERE MEALS ARE SERVED" and they seem to lack tables in their screening room.

BKExcuse

I don't think it would be easy for reRun to serve beer while the movie is playing. Their isn't much room to move around, you would have to pass the drink down to someone at the end. I think their current system of serving before the movie works, I just get 2 beers before it starts. Also nice to see Ruben Diaz first voted for the bill and then against, just another confirmation that he's an idiot.