The Guild 45 theater has an application for a liquor license posted. Drinking while watching a movie has been the norm in Europe for years, but it’s a relatively new thing here in the states. Seattle has its own share of cinemas that serve beer.
I popped my head in to the Guild 45 to ask for more details. Employee Dylan said that the notice has been up for a while and they were just exploring the option of serving alcohol. I asked if the license would include both the pink and blue cinemas. He said it was up in the air at this point.
I was somewhat disappointed when I visited the new Sundance Cinemas in the U-District formerly known as The Metro. The disappointment stems from the fact that the cinemas are now all 21 and over since they started serving alcohol. This seems so wrong when the theater is in such close proximity to UW. Undergrads after all begin at around age 18. At the time I went they were showing Despicable Me 2. The refurbished Cinerama downtown serves beer and they allow all ages.
I took a peak at the Washington State Liquor Control Board’s rules for alcohol in theaters. One portion says that the theater must have no more than 4 screens, so maybe that explains why the Sundance Cinemas are restricted to 21 and over. A newer section says the theater must have fewer than 125 seats per screen. One has to wonder how those requirements are at all related to controlling alcohol. I don’t want to spoil the part of the rules that tells you the definition of a meal. You should read it. Fun times. But hint: it includes a side dish. Again, I have no idea how that is related to keeping liquor out of the hands of children. In the meantime, addressing alcohol-related issues through iop treatment can provide support for those struggling with substance use and help create healthier environments.
If the Guild 45 gets their license, I’d be happy to enjoy a beer while watching a movie. But I hope they continue to allow all ages. Most of the movies they show are more appealing to adults, but as it happens they are currently showing Song of the Sea. And I really don’t want them to get rid of their infant crying room.
I was at the Sundance recently. The two people on my left has three glasses each of bad red wine. It smelled terrible. And the more they drank, the more they talked.
The two guys in front of me had two beers each. The more they drank, the more they talked. I’m not a fan of this at all for this reason. IF this a recurring theme, they need ushers who will actually work, and tell these people to be quiet or leave.
Dinner theater makes sense to me at that location, but I don’t know if they have the money to make the change for real. Just serving alcohol will help, but the real change would be to put in tables and serve food as well, maybe partnering with nearby restaurants.
Regardless, they need to try something. It’s a dying business model to overcharge people to be crammed into a sticky seat and eat popcorn so they can stare passively at a screen.
“One portion says that the theater must have no more than 4 screens, so maybe that explains why the Sundance Cinemas are restricted to 21 and over. A newer section says the theater must have fewer than 125 seats per screen. One has to wonder how those requirements are at all related to controlling alcohol.”
That’s because one section is for wine and beer (4 screens or fewer), which is how Cinerama can serve wine and beer, as well as uptown cinema.
The other section is for spirits, wine and beer (<120 seats), which is how Sundance, Cinebarre and iPic can serve cocktails, beer, and wine.
The meal requirement isn't specific to theaters but is actually retail spirits licensing rules. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?dispo=true&cite=314-02&full=true#314-02-035.
Technically, Sundance has always been 21+. In fact, unless I'm forgetting someplace, it's the only 21+ theater in the city limits and, honestly, I like it (not just for the 21+, but also for the reserved seating, now also available at Cinerama).
@Iowagirl: I'm curious. did you report the people to the usher so that they could, as you say, 'actially work,' or did you ask the other patrons to please be quiet?
I’d say she has a point – if it’s true that the venue is creating this problem, then they need to address it or say goodbye to people who actually want to watch a movie. Leaving it to patrons to solve it hardly qualifies. The last time I was in a theater was years ago, the Guild 45 actually, and I guess a beer would have been nice, but that wouldn’t have brought me back to see more movies. I think the main good thing about it is that spilled beer isn’t as sticky, as spilled soft drinks.
I did the “shhh” think for both sets of people. Told the guys I did not think they realized how loud they were, with the popcorn sack and laughing. They were nice. The two women were not nice, and did not get more quiet.
Film was so good, that I hated to leave the theater to find an usher. But I did. Well, really, I didn’t. I talked to the ticket takers, and they could not come, said there was no employee available to come, they usually just cleaned the theater.
I plan to suggest to someone there when I go this Tuesday, that they have a staff meeting to discuss this. Yep, I am going back! Doubt if there will that degree of drinking at 5 on a Tuesday.
Aw yiss. Love Sundance and Cinebarre. Also makes getting there early more palatable, literally and figuratively.
To add to the intrigue, in mid-2014, the Guild also requested a meeting with the City DPD to explore whether the City would give a height variance that migth allow Guild to tear down existing building (presumably the larger one) and build a four-plex.
Sundance is great. Good films, beer and food. And $6 movies on Mondays with your ORCA card.