Change is brewing in B.C.

In response to intense pressure from movie and live event theatres, the government made changes last week to some of its alcohol laws that dated back to the prohibition of the 1920s.

The new laws will allow multiplex and single-screen theatres to apply for liquor licenses, and serve alcohol in adult-only auditoriums or in adjacent lobbies where minors are present.

In addition, as long as no alcohol is served, live event theatres will be allowed to screen movies or host events for people of all ages without prior approval from the province.

Corinne Lea, owner of the Rio Theatre (pictured) and one of the leaders of the campaign to change the province’s liquor laws, tells Playback Daily that the changes will help her venue, which has built its reputation on hosting multimedia events.

“A lot of our creativity centres on event-driven movies, so the option to have alcohol at these events will definitely help us stay in business,” she says.

When the Rio Theatre first received its liquor license on Jan. 23, the liquor control board slapped a ban on movie screenings at the venue.

The ban was removed Feb. 8, only to be replaced by restrictions which would have allowed film screenings during matinees only and required the venue to de-license for any evening screenings.

Lea says these restrictions threatened to put the Rio out of business, and prompted her campaign to have the province’s liquor laws changed.

“What they’ve done now by allowing alcohol in movie theatres, I think will give a real boost to the industry,” she says.

“It will allow for more flexibility and improve independent film screenings and film festivals,” she adds.

Though the changes are seen as a victory for the industry, some wonder why the government took so long to change its policies – especially when movie theatres in provinces such as Ontario and Alberta have been serving alcohol for years.

According to a government spokesperson, the delay was due to the many factors that had to be considered before making changes to the existing laws.

“With a variety of requests from large multiplex theatres to independently owned live event theatres the provincial government had to consider the industry as a whole and make changes that made the most sense for all parties involved,” the spokesperson tells Playback Daily.

The spokesperson added that the government also wanted to ensure that the changes would provide theatres with flexibility while limiting minors’ access to alcohol.

Lea believes, however, that there was no reason to be concerned.

“I think business owners know how to handle alcohol responsibly,” she insists.

“We’ve had alcohol at special events, such as film screenings and festivals without incident for years,” she adds.