posted 01-21-2012 12:57 AM                       

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East Van cinema gains a liquor license, loses right to show movies
marsha lederman
Vancouver— Globe and Mail Update
Published Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 6:38PM EST
Last updated Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 9:48PM EST

Vancouver’s Rio Theatre is cancelling all film screenings as of Monday, after a roller coaster ride of a week involving its long fight for a liquor license. On Wednesday, it appeared that fight had been won, as the Rio announced it had been granted a license to serve alcohol at adult-only live events, such as concerts. “This is great news for the future of one of the last remaining Independent Theatres in Vancouver,” read a celebratory news release, sent out late Wednesday.

But when it came time to sign the license on Thursday, the Rio was presented with a surprise clause by the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch:

“Under current regulations and policies, you cannot operate as a licensed live theatre at some times and an unlicensed movie theatre at others. Therefore the following term and condition will be placed on your liquor primary license: This establishment is not permitted to show movies or any type of cinematic screenings at any time.”

The news came as a blow to Corinne Lea, who has been running the theatre for about three-and-a-half years.

“I was shocked; absolutely shocked,” says Ms. Lea. “The condition is really harsh. ... I just don’t understand the need to restrict us when we’re not selling alcohol.”

She argues the Rio is not by definition a movie theatre, as movie theatres screen films exclusively and don’t host live concerts and community events.

“We’re not a normal movie theatre, and so it seems pretty arbitrary that someone in Victoria who’s never been to the Rio has decided because we show movies we’re a movie theatre,” she says.//

Put on the spot, Ms. Lea was forced to choose between selling liquor during live events and cancelling all film screenings, or continuing to go without the liquor license. “It was a really, really tough decision,” she says. “We spent a year and three months trying to get this license and here it was. We finally got it. ... Basically my business can’t survive without getting a liquor license. We’ve been hanging on, just waiting for it. So I have no choice.”

She signed, and cancelled all screenings after this weekend (the liquor license goes into effect on Monday).

Ms. Lea knows her decision will have an impact: it’s not just a matter of cancelling screenings of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo after Sunday. It means no DOXA documentaries, no Out on the Screen Film Festival screenings, no Movies for Mommies.

“I don’t understand how that can be justified,” says Ms. Lea.

The LCLB emailed a response to the Globe and Mail’s inquiries on the matter late Friday, stating “the Rio Theatre cannot operate occasionally as an unlicensed movie theatre and as a licensed live-event venue at other times. One of the significant considerations has always been the large number of movie-goers that are youth and the unique challenges posed by darkened movie theatres against the government’s responsibility to ensure that minors do not have access to alcohol.”

Asked whether the LCLB might change its stance, the Branch wrote: “Government is considering whether changes might be made to allow the licensing of movie theatres themselves in the future; however, no decisions have been made to date."

There are theatres in B.C. that can serve alcohol, but the rules are complex. The Silver City complex in Coquitlam, for example, has a liquor license for its lounge, which is physically separate from the unlicensed areas and has a separate entrance. Movie-goers can’t take alcohol into the theatres.

Some local artists are rising to the defence of the Rio. Independent filmmaker Tyler James Nicol sent a letter of protest to members of the media on Friday. //He explained that the Rio has given him opportunities he wouldn’t have had elsewhere, and wrote that the restriction doesn’t make sense.

“You may watch sporting events while surrounded by your family and imbibe, you can have a pitcher of beer and throw a 10 pound bowling ball down a faux-wood alley and be within your legal right, but you can't see sequential images projected on a screen in a building that houses liquor and be expected to be lawful.”

While the Rio also has to cancel its wildly popular Friday midnight screenings, next weekend, The Rocky Horror Picture Show will go on - sort of. A shadow cast that usually acts out the film as it plays on the screen behind them will go through the motions, but without the motion picture.

“Although we’re not happy with the rules, we will follow them,” says Ms. Lea. Then she added: “until they get changed.”

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posted 04-14-2012 11:53 AM                       

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Movie theatres and live-event theatres in B.C. can now apply for a licence to serve alcohol during the screening of a film, the province announced Wednesday.

In a written release, the province said multiplex theatres will be allowed to obtain liquor licences and serve alcohol in adult-only auditoriums and adjacent lobbies.

Single-screen movie and live-event theatres can apply to serve alcohol in a lobby where minors are present and serve liquor in the auditorium for adult-only screenings or events.

"These changes give movie theatres and live-event theatres much more flexibility to operate while allowing adults to responsibly enjoy a drink while watching a movie," said Minister Rich Coleman.

"These changes strike an appropriate balance between allowing liquor service at theatres and limiting minors' access to alcohol."
'A more level playing field'

Earlier this year, Vancouver city councillors, the NDP opposition and the owner of the iconic Rio Theatre in Vancouver called for a reform of the province's liquor laws after the Rio's owner complained the venue's new liquor licence prevented them from showing movies.

The province announced a handful of changes in February, allowing live venues with liquor licences to show movies and pay-per-view shows.

"We commend the provincial government for taking this positive and responsible approach to updating the liquor laws in the province," said Jeremy Bator, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Association of B.C.

"These changes will have a positive impact on so many levels including increased jobs, a better guest experience and a more level playing field in the increasingly competitive landscape of entertainment in Canada."

Approximately 30 live-event theatres and 100 movie theatres are potentially eligible to apply for these changes.

Local governments will continue to have input on all new liquor primary licence applications, the province said.

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REGINA — For Kirby Wirchenko, executive director of the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon, serving alcohol at movie theatres is practical.

Following the B.C. government’s announcement on Wednesday that it will allow multiplex theatres to apply for licences to serve alcohol in adult-only auditoriums and adjacent lobbies, Saskatchewan is the only province in Western Canada that is prohibited to serve alcohol at movie theatres.

“People of age are allowed to go to a bar and buy 20 drinks and stay till 2 a.m.,” Wirchenko said. “If people are planning on being in a movie theatre for 90, 100, or 110 minutes tops, it’s not like you’re going to see a whole bunch of crazy inebriation and people spilling into the streets after every film, drunk and ready to drive home.”

Wirchenko said Broadway Theatre would serve alcohol with movies if it was allowed. The theatre, which is independently owned and has one screen, already serves alcohol between 100-150 nights a year for live and special closed-door events, Wirchenko said. Despite the fact that the crowds are between 250-300 people for concerts, he added there is no obnoxious behaviour. Since the average crowd for a screening is 20-30, Wirchenko doesn’t see why alcohol would be a problem.

“It’s absurd that for some people a combination of one drink and a screen playing a film is a recipe for disaster,” he said.

The Saskatchewan government has been conducting a red-tape reduction review of liquor regulations in the province since last summer; it is expected to be complete by the end of this summer. As part of that review, the government will determine whether or not movie theatres should be considered special-use venues: ones that aren’t primarily focused on the sale of alcohol, but can sell it.

If movie theatres in Saskatchewan are considered special-use venues, they could apply for a permit. In cities, this would cost $200, with a first-year application fee of $200. Theatres would have to comply with minimum alcohol prices in the province, but could charge as much as they wanted.

“In general, we’re always looking at our regulations,” said David Morris, spokesman for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

“The big thing to look at is what sort of restrictions would apply. As you know, a movie theatre is a venue that attracts people of all different ages. Obviously minors can’t be sold alcohol.”

Cineplex Entertainment has VIP Cinemas that are only open to adults. And, in places like Ontario where it is legal, serve alcohol. This will soon be the case in Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and B.C., as well.

Pat Marshall, vice-president of communications for Cineplex, which operates Galaxy Cinemas and Cineplex Odeon Southland Mall Cinemas in Regina, said the company offers three to five VIP auditoriums, which have large leather reserved seats with table tops as part of the armrest. Service is provided right to patrons’ seats and can include beverages, appetizers and entrees.

There are no VIP auditoriums in Saskatchewan, though Marshall said Cineplex wants to expand the service across the country.

“For us at Cineplex, it’s really about providing our guests with a wide array of choices when they come to the theatre,” she said. “Just like we offer 3D technology in some locations ... it’s the same principle.”

The Regina Public Library Film Theatre does not offer a concession during screenings, so theatre co-ordinator Belinda New said any ruling considering alcohol would not affect them.

While Wirchenko is in favour of selling alcohol at movie theatres, he doesn’t think it’s vital.

“A liquor licence is not going to save a movie theatre,” he said. “However, if it’s a part of their growing business and they want to have that, I cannot see what the issue would be.”

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