cocktails.jpg
Movie theater owners want the Washington legislature to allow them to sell booze (AP image)

Small theatre owners seek beer and wine license

BY Tim Haeck  on January 17, 2013 @ 4:11 pm (Updated: 4:51 pm - 1/17/13 )

You can have a beer at the ball game or a bowling alley and at a bar or restaurant, but not at the movie theatre. Owners of smaller movie houses are asking the Washington legislature to authorize a special liquor license for them.

Operators of small town, independent and historic downtown theatres are asking state lawmakers to create a special theatre beer and wine license (HB 1001) to help them compete. Dan Wyatt Jr. owns Kiggins Theatre in Vancouver, right across the river from Portland where theatre pubs are popular.

"It would help a lot for independent theatres, I'm sure, all around Washington but especially in Vancouver, a border city and give us another source of revenue to compete with the multiplexes," said Wyatt Jr.

Critics say alcohol is already available in too many, non-traditional places. "We now see sampling or the sale of alcohol at farmer markets, grocery stores, wedding botiques, spas, senior centers and so forth and we think this sends the wrong message to our youth in the sense that it normalizes the use of alcohol," said Seth Dawson with the Washington Association of Substance Abuse Prevention.

A House committee was told Thursday that there are already rules in place for cinemas with dinner theatre venues. The proposed law would require movie theatres to file an alcohol control plan to keep booze out of the hands of minors.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (9)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    look in the back row -
    January 17, 2013 4:34 pm
    it's Pee-wee Herman adding butter to the popcorn!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    Yer Kidden Me, Right?!..............
    January 17, 2013 5:14 pm
    If you can't sit through a 2+ hr movie without getting tuned up.......you definitely have a drinking problem.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    ahhh- NO!
    January 17, 2013 5:53 pm
    Theaters smell bed and are filthy enough. Besides, if a large drink and popcorn cost 12 bucks, could you imagine what a beer would cost? Besides, its hard enough to enjoy a movie with all the noise and smart phones int he audience now, toss in some booze and whamo! Gig stinky!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • I farted and my face blew up wrote...
    In Texas...
    January 17, 2013 6:37 pm
    They serve booze in alot of the theaters. Yet one more sign that Texas is far superior than all other states, and ahead of the national trend
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Portland has these.
    January 17, 2013 6:52 pm
    They don't have the newest movies but it's kinda fun to grab a pizza and a brew while watching a movie. Plus there are no kids kicking the back of your seat, crying or talking over the film.....the drunk behind you fills that role.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    no kids kicking the back of your seat?? -
    January 17, 2013 7:01 pm
    what the name of your favorite adult movie? mittens go's to Washington is mine!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Grow up, dude.
    January 17, 2013 7:42 pm
    And it should read "Mittens goes to Washington." At least try to be clever in your insults.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    "Theatre?"
    January 17, 2013 8:49 pm
    Why the limey spelling of "theater?"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Why not
    January 18, 2013 6:00 am
    And let 'em smoke weed too....enhance the movie-going experience LOL
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }