http://www.webfin.com/en/news/news.html/?id=39521
Beer Coming To Movie Theatres?
Canada (Oct. 03, 2003 - 06:58)
VANCOUVER (CP) -- Canada's largest movie theatre chain wants to sell beer, wine and coolers in its 18 theatres in British Columbia.
Famous Players will begin selling alcohol in its theatres in Edmonton and Calgary later this year after the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission granted licences to the Toronto-based chain.
And the theatre chain wants the B.C. government for a change in liquor laws that would allow alcohol to be sold in theatres throughout the province.
"We'd like it to happen in all of our theatres," Nuria Bronfman, spokeswoman for Famous Players, said Thursday. "We would like to take this project across the country."
Famous Players representatives said they have discussed the issue with the B.C. solicitor general's office in Victoria.
"We're just going through the process in other jurisdictions, including British Columbia, finding out what we have to do," said Bronfman of their efforts to implement change to the alcohol laws in British Columbia.
"We're going to see what it takes and what the process is. We're literally figuring out what we have to do."
Solicitor General Rich Coleman, who is in charge of liquor control and licensing in the province, was unavailable for comment.
"Our regulations prohibit movie theatres from applying for a liquor licence," said Cindy Stephenson of the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.
"And we're not contemplating changes to those regulations. The reason for that restriction is that a lot of youth frequent movie theatres."
Famous Players has a liquor license for specially designated lounge areas at its theatres in suburban Langley, B.C., and at one theatre in Montreal and two in Toronto.
The sale of beer and wine is common at movie theatres in Europe and parts of the United States.
Bronfman said Famous Players is aware of the concerns about minors..
"Obviously, we're not going to allow minors to get access to alcohol," she said, noting that alcohol is served at sporting events and restaurants where minors also go.
In Alberta, alcohol will be consumed only in theatre lobbies.