The Varsity VIP theatre, a small, intimate theatre room at Yonge & Bloor, will allow guests to buy up to two alcoholic beverages prior to the movie. The same is planned for an Oakville theatre before the end of the year.
The decision is part of a pilot program that will likely run for a one-year period. But does it make sense?
The participating theatres are typically higher-end locations with lounges that serve alcohol anyway; and tend to attract well to-do adults attending without children. So really, there was no reason alcohol shouldn't have been permitted in these particular theatres all along. But should this program extend to the standard movie theatre? I would have to say no. Theatres are already crowded with rowdy teenagers and young children. Add alcohol to that mix, and you have the potential recipe for disaster.
Sure, you can buy a beer at a sporting event despite the fact that there are rowdy teens and young kids there as well. But a movie is supposed to be a quiet, intense experience. If you want to have a beer or a glass of wine while watching one, do so at home. In my eyes, you'd get an overall more enjoyable experience there anyway! But if you're looking for a night out, the Varsity theatres are quite nice, and offer a like-home experience for a slightly higher price than you'd pay at a "regular" theatre. Now that you can curl up with a glass of wine there as well, the experience could be all the more enjoyable.
