Music Notes | Movie Notes | Straight Talk

Liquor licence will prevent Rio Theatre from screening any movies

By Craig Takeuchi, January 20, 2012

There's been another twist in the ongoing saga of the Rio Theatre's attempt to obtain a liquor licence.

On Thursday (January 19), Rio Theatre owner Corinne Lea issued a news release, stating that the theatre had been granted a liquor-primary licence for live events.

See also

Liquor Control and Licensing Branch clarifies Rio Theatre's licence

The theatre had planned on continuing to screen movies and all-ages community events—but without bar service.

However, later that day, the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch issued a condition on the licence:

"By regulation, movie theatres are prohibited from applying for a liquor primary license. 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."

Lea told the Straight by phone that she still doesn't understand why she can't screen films when her licence is not in effect. "My licence starts at 6 p.m. and goes from 6 p.m. until midnight on weekdays and 6 p.m. until 1 [a.m.] on the weekends. Even during the day, when I have no liquor licence, I'm not permitted to show a movie. To me, that is way too far reaching and we don't understand why they felt the need to do that."

Her interpretation of why this is happening is because the Rio is being classified as a movie theatre, rather than a multimedia venue. "What we're hoping is that maybe if they just classified us differently, because we're not like every other movie theatre, maybe that would allow them to permit us to have multimedia programming."

The BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch did not make anyone available for a phone interview request by the Straight .

Lea emphasized though that she will abide by the terms of her licence. "I have agreed to follow the rules and that's what I'm going to do. I'm not being defiant. I'm not happy about it…but I am going to comply with the rules that they've laid out for me."

Consequently, movie screenings after the licence is issued (Lea anticipates it will be on Monday [January 23]) will be cancelled. The last film will be The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on Sunday (January 22) at 9:30 p.m. Film events such as Midnight Movies, Movies for Mommies, Friends of Dorothy Queer Film Series, and DOXA and Vancouver Queer Film Festival screenings will all be affected.

The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival had six screenings scheduled at the Rio (in addition to screenings at other venues) to be held during their festival, which runs from February 10 to 18. VIMFF festival director Alan Formanek said by phone that they will wait to see what happens at the Rio next week before taking action.

The Rio will be closed on the nights that films were scheduled into February. However, Lea is hoping to schedule live events in their place.

You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig.

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Comments

Steve Newton
Fri, 2012-01-20 15:37
excuse my language, but: fucking hell
 
Vanpire Ricky
Fri, 2012-01-20 15:47
oh, the letter of the law, eh? I bet we can find loopholes in the system to get the liquor control board shut down...
 
Meh.
Fri, 2012-01-20 15:50
Vancouver is great but stuff like this makes me want to move back to Europe. Do they think we are a bunch of fuggin babies?
 
R U Kiddingme
Fri, 2012-01-20 16:10
I love the Rio! I mean...yes they should have thought of this before applying... and also, can you please improve the nachos, they are stale... but...I love the Rio! I hope it works out quick.
 
Mike Usinger
Fri, 2012-01-20 16:24
That we as British Columbians continue to put up with this bullshit never ceases to amaze. Who appoints these fucking people? And why can't someone come in and clean house once and for all? Do they pack up at the end of each work week thinking they have somehow done a fantastic job of saving us from ourselves? And what must they think of the rest of the world, where you can actually not only get a beer during a movie, but at a corner store? This kind of bullshit has been going on for decades with no end in sight.
 
Fat Guy
Fri, 2012-01-20 16:26
Geez, i've been to movie theatres in Toronto where they sell alcohol. How embarrassing to be in the dark ages compared to Hogtown...
 
RodF
Fri, 2012-01-20 16:54
Keep up the good work, Hillbillyville!
 
Birdy
Fri, 2012-01-20 17:12
re: Mike Usinger "Who appoints these fucking people?"

Politicians, collectivist nanny-state lefty politicians, you know, the ones all your co-workers at the Straight worship, the ones whose unethical behavior you can't criticize without getting censored, called racist, or charged with a hateful thought crime.

Some of the people complaining about this are the same folks who demand "more regulation" in every area of our lives. Well congratulations "progressives", you won, enjoy your prize. You're finally SAFE from the dark, evil, dangerous combination of beer and a movie.

Let's ban pine cones next, and reduce the posted speed limit on the Seawall. You know, for the planet and shit.
 
duh
Fri, 2012-01-20 17:16
C'mon, having spent this much time messing with the bureaucracy, they should have known that it is one or the other: movie theatre or live venue. You think bigger fish (like the multiplexes) haven't thought of this idea? And even with their financial force come up with nothing. You ask me, they knew it all along and just wants to do live band stuff because it is more profitable (with booze) and find a tricky way out of their film obligations. It's like they are saying in Saskatchewan right now - bring beer into the movie theater and you end up with a lot of people getting up for pee breaks and refills, to say nothing of the inflated prices for snacks/drinks already - if a coke is $4.5, does that mean a beer is $10.50? Drunks at the movies - oh yay, so civilized. But wait a minute, how does the Vancity theatre swing it? They have alcohol....?!?
 
Gentleman Jack
Fri, 2012-01-20 17:16
"Do they pack up at the end of each work week thinking they have somehow done a fantastic job of saving us from ourselves?"

Thinking? A bureaucrat? Ha ha ha.
 
Martin Dunphy
Fri, 2012-01-20 17:22
Birdy:

Please provide details of when the Georgia Straight has censored your comments about "collectivist nanny-state lefty politicians".

Anyone who regularly reads posts on this site knows that, if anything, the opposite holds true.

The only time a comment is deleted is when it contravenes the restrictions set out in our "Comments Disclaimer", below.

Criticizing "lefty politicians" is not one of them.

Have a nice day.

 
JamieLee
Fri, 2012-01-20 17:43
I admire the Rio for challenging the status quo. I find it interesting that Vancity theatre can have drinks but I don't believe you can take the drinks into the theatre for movie screenings. Same as the Orpheum I think.. I think Corrine needs to explain whether she wants people to be able to drink inside the Theatre? Or perhaps the Straight writer Craig could clarify this issue? Also I wonder when the Rio holds burlesque shows if they will be bound by liquor licensing requirements around exotic shows. Will be interesting to see what happens since the City supported the liquor license for the Rio.
 
GOT
Fri, 2012-01-20 18:16
Movie/film audiences are already so goddam rude in Vancouver... what the hell, EVERY audience in Vancouver is enough to make you wish you'd stayed home...thank god they aren't able to get drunk too! Of course that doesn't prevent them from arriving drunk, and late, and/or bringing in their own booze so they can pretend they're in their own living rooms with several hundred friends. Sad to say, Vancouverites are far too immature to be allowed adult perks like a bar in a cinema. Too bad for the Rio, but let's not open that door.
 
R2
Fri, 2012-01-20 19:49
Vancouver = "no CLUE city"....clueless bureaucrats
 
dannn
Fri, 2012-01-20 21:03
Dive in folks. http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_9626...

Dont blame the bureaucracy, its called the rule of law. Its insane we still have 1920's liquor laws but start writing the right people. If we make it an issue, the straight will right another piece on it, a large conversation will form and maybe the MLA's will push some legislation?
 
Maude
Fri, 2012-01-20 22:41
Birdy: "Politicians, collectivist nanny-state lefty politicians, you know, the ones all your co-workers at the Straight worship, the ones whose unethical behavior you can't criticize without getting censored, called racist, or charged with a hateful thought crime."

You are wrong. The NDP (Spencer Hertbert) is the only provincial party that has said anything about this. The Liberals have been completely silent and have said nothing about provincial liquor laws since they have been in power even though the laws are clearly completely non-sensical.
 
Maude
Sat, 2012-01-21 01:27
...and the B.C. Liquor Board has effectively dismantled The Rio Theatre's daytime "Movies for Mommies" program.

Ha! That is awesome. Great work. I couldn't have come up with that myself.

Consider the following B.C. government employees:

-Probation Officers
-Support Workers
-Healthcare Workers
-Social Workers
...and...
-B.C. Liquor Workers

The B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch is clearly a relic of the past. More needs to be done and it cannot change fast enough.
 
Anton
Sat, 2012-01-21 08:47
Buy a flask, problem solved =)
 
M.MacNeill
Sat, 2012-01-21 10:23
I have been waiting for over 30 years for B.C.'s liquor laws to be modernized. There have been improvements but they have come very, very slowly. It hasn't mattered which brand of government was in power, none of them have gone back and cleaned out the archaic regulations. My sympathies are with the owner and management of the Rio Theatre, who are just trying to survive in a difficult business climate.
 
Orson B. Jective
Sat, 2012-01-21 11:05
"It's like they are saying in Saskatchewan right now - bring beer into the movie theater and you end up with a lot of people getting up for pee breaks and refill ... Drunks at the movies - oh yay, so civilized."

Statements like this always make me wonder if it should not be made mandatory for every Canadian to leave this puritanical country at least once in their lives. Really, just try it sometime. Take a trip to Europe, for instance, and marvel at the fact how people (from the age of 16) in a city like Berlin can buy beer in supermarkets and convenience stores, are free to drink it walking down the street or even on the subway and there is still surprisingly less frequent boozed-up public aggression than on a Saturday night on Granville Street - and the world has miraculously not ended thus far. You could also witness, how literally every movie theatre sells liquor without any noticeable increase in lewdness and rudeness compared to what goes on here. Seriously, unless your position is that specifically Canadians are somehow genetically incapable of looking after themselves, our liquor laws - not just their interpretation - are perhaps the most ignorant, unnecessary legislation in the entire country ... and that's saying something.
 
Morty
Sat, 2012-01-21 17:54
@Birdy: "Politicians, collectivist nanny-state lefty politicians, you know, the ones all your co-workers at the Straight worship, the ones whose unethical behavior you can't criticize without getting censored, called racist, or charged with a hateful thought crime."

I'd hardly consider the Liberals "nanny-state lefty politicians". In fact, it's progressives who have consistently pushed to have BC's liquor laws modernized. The Liberals, unfortunately, have done little more than sell off profitable stores in the name of "privatization". They certainly haven't done anything to update the laws that affect the rest of us.

(When did "nanny state" become a pejorative, anyhow? I'd take Mary Poppins over the Ron Pauls of the world any day.)
 
A. MacInnis
Sat, 2012-01-21 23:23
Orson - good, but you gotta remember, we're in the wild west out here. We're basically living in Deadwood North - a sociocultural free-for-all, with few common ties binding people other than the very loose ones of the marketplace. Sure, in most other places in the world - places that have STRONG, ORGANIC CULTURE that binds people and regulates behaviour - you can have readily available alcohol without anarchy. I've seen it myself - I lived in Japan for three years, a VERY alcohol-oriented society where (to say nothing of convenience stores and theatres) anyone can get hard liquor out of vending machines on the street, completely unwatched and unregulated (or so it was circa 2002). But people also tend to police each other, have common values and ameans of expressing disapproval when someone violates them, and they actually CARE what their neighbours think, recognizing these things. It couldn't be otherwise - Japan is essentially a monoculture, while we're basically one big shopping mall, packed with an extremely diverse population with very different ideas about what is good or bad (and with huge gaps for people to fall through the cracks, socialization-wise). OF COURSE things will get more out of hand if we free the liquor; just because the rest of the world is grown up enough to handle their drinks in fact doesn't mean that WE are.

Not that I disagree that the situation sucks, and that The Rio is being weirdly and unnecessarily overregulated in this case... In the absence of unifying culture values and the self-regulating mechanisms they provide, we're left with stifling rules and regulations... Sadly, culture has so much more capacity for flexibility than RULES...
 
GOT
Sun, 2012-01-22 07:25
I'm guessing that the Rio wants a bar for movie patrons, rather than a situation where people can take drinks into the cinema...would that be correct Corinne? I've got no problem with that - in fact it works relatively well at live theatre venues in Vancouver, EXCEPT when you get people who think that because the venue has a license, cracking open a couple of beers or a bottle of wine IN the theatre is just so SO sophisticated and clever! Until they spill it, which they inevitably do, so everyone around them gets to breathe beer/wine fumes for the next hour or so...or they talk and giggle for the first fifteen minutes until somebody tells them to STFU, after which they just giggle...or they make all that stupid noise people make drinking out of a can or bottle in a paper bag...I could go on, but enough! If you can't last for an hour without a drink then stay the fuck home and spare the rest of the audience your ignorant behaviour.
In some civilized European cities I've visited, you can pre-order your drinks for intermission when you arrive at the theatre bar; at intermission, there are everyone's drinks nicely lined up on tables in the bar with the purchasers' name tags. No mad dash for the bar at intermission, no lining up for 14 of the 15 intermission moments then shotgunning your drinks. Can you imagine that happening here? NFW! People would be scarfing everyone else's drinks!...Vancouver is a truly pathetic city, and unfortunately that's why we have the liquor laws we deserve.
 
out at night
Sun, 2012-01-22 11:53
To those who don't think Vancouverites have the maturity and sophistication to handle a bit of booze inside the confines of a movie theatre, your opinions are obviously based on observations that all should acknowledge as real and verifiable. Wild west indeed! It should noted however that we are actually talking about serving liquor during live events, not movies!

One way of regulating behaviour in the presence of alcohol is to staff a venue with well-trained, responsible people who know how to intervene when patrons misbehave, and when necessary, evict those who cannot abide by behavioral standards. Unfortunately most movie theatres are under-staffed by very young, under-paid and under-trained folks who aren't inside the auditorium very much and who cannot intervene when patrons decide to start texting (aarrgghh!) or otherwise acting like jerks. Other licensed venues like the Commodore employ professional security and have well-trained and responsible staff and management. When's the last time anyone remembers things going haywire in that place? Maybe enough Vancouverites are simply too boorish and disrespectful to throw off the shackles of nanny-state regulation, or maybe businesses in Vancouver need to simply acquit themselves appropriately for the challenges posed by their audiences. The Stanley Cup riot is a pretty good example of a host ignoring its audience's proclivity for mayhem. Does that mean we ban entry into the downtown next time the Canucks make the finals, or do we simply beef up the resources for dealing with our wild west denizens?
 
 
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