Boozing At The Movies May Be Going Mainstream Soon!

Drinking beer at Nitehawk Cinema during a recent screening (Kyle Dean Reinford)

This month, we heard the good news that Matthew Viragh, owner of Williamsburg's Nitehawk Cinema, had been successful in his fight to overturn a state law barring alcohol in movie theaters. But now it seems you may be able to bring your booze into the movie theaters at large chain cinemas in the city sooner than you think!

According to the Post, AMC Theaters and the Angelika Film Center on Houston Street are considering adding restaurants that serve alcohol, thereby allowing moviegoers to bring drinks to their seats. “We’re excited about the possibility of bringing AMC Dine-In Theatres to our guests in New York,” said spokesman Ryan Noonan.

Since the repeal of Prohibition, NY has permitted drinks to be served in all theaters except those showing movies. But because of the new state law, which Viragh had been fighting for, theaters are now permitted to serve alcohol if there is a restaurant on the premises.

Movie theaters are hoping this move will lure more adults to their theaters: “Adults aren’t enjoying going to the movies [which cater to] adolescents,” said a spokeswoman for Assemblyman Joe Lentol, who sponsored the bill. Now if we can finally get some legislators to fight for stoop drinking and designated outdoor booze zones, then we'd never have to worry about not being able to dance ever again.

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By Ben Yakas in Food on September 25, 2011 5:35 PM

Comments [rss]

Assemblyman Joe Lentol

My name is Amy Cleary and I work for the Assemblyman who wrote the legislation, Joe Lentol who represents Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Fort Greene. Although the Assemblyman was unaware of the Nighthawk or it's desire to serve alcohol when he wrote and passed this legislation he is thrilled that they will be able to benefit from this bill as they are exactly the type of establishment he was trying to reach when working on this bill. Assemblyman Lentol worked hard to ensure that the legislation catered to independent movie theaters in order to give them another tool to survive and even thrive in a difficult economy and hopefully the ability to reach new more mature populations that would be unlikely to attend a theater due to time constraints after work or a desire for a more mature crowd. This legislation requires that the theater have a chef, and that food be made on site, like several new Brooklyn theaters have, before they can get liquor licenses. It cant be done on the fly at a snack counter. Also we are thrilled to be building a relationship with the Nighthawk, which is in our district, and hopefully we can work on a future project together.

rnrnys

As if it isn't dangerous enough at the Sunrise Cinemas in Valley Stream.

Just what we needed.

Back to NetFlix

Ragingsemi

Great now I'll be able to buy a $33 gin and tonic at the movies.

jeb

Glad to see Nitehawk got the law overturned. That's all they were missing from the experience. I understand that many commenters have reservations, but at least at NH the clientele are very respectful and polite and actually watch the films. Adding alcohol shouldn't be a problem. At an AMC during a jammed showing of the latest Transformers? That might not be so fun.

Roark

Next Stop

Beer Vending Machines like they have in Japan and Europe.

Ian MacAllen

Wouldn't the snack bar count as a restaurant? They have to abide by the city's ordinance requiring chain restaurants to post calorie counts.

marcosduran

Ah yes. Great idea. The stench of beer in an enclosed space. The stench of beer on seats. The stench of beer on the carpets. Yes fantastic idea. Morons.

Amber

Party pooper!

pendejito

Almost as good as allowing popcorn in movie theaters.

The stench of popcorn and the constant crunching of people simply gorging because "they're at a movie" is one of the main reasons I don't go to movie theaters.

I'll take beer over popcorn any day.