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Original poster

Is there any way to smuggle alcohol into a cinema

228 replies

Jellypot · 20/09/2021 18:13

The cinemas in my local city doesn't serve alcoholic drinks. I'm not an alcoholic by the way.

I was waiting for the James bond movie for a long time but covid came and it didn't come out. Its been a long year filled with so much shit. I'm not an alcoholic by the way. I do practice drink safety. I don't drink to get drunk. I would like to have some drinks when I go to the cinema. I want to pack my handbag with a bottle with me in my handbag. I want to enjoy some drinks while watching the movie to relax and unwind. I won't be falling out the door drunk.

Last time I was in the cinema my bag was checked or my handbag was taken off me.

OP posts:
janj2301 · 21/09/2021 20:03

Don't know about alcohol, assume licensing is involved but you are perfectly free to take and food/(non alcoholic) drink in, you don't need to hide it infact a lot of chains advertise this on their websites. Why not take booze in in a 7up/coke/water bottle

StarTrekRedShirt · 21/09/2021 20:30

Double carrier bags, filled with gin, sellotaped at the top and stuffed up your shirt with a long straw. Pretend to be pregnant. And if it leaks you can claim your waters broke. Simples.

waitingpatientlyforspring · 21/09/2021 21:25

I only had my bag checked once when going to see the first Fifty shades of grey. Even then we had booze in. I usually decant wine into a thermos but have never been stopped or checked.

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AnnieSnap · 21/09/2021 22:06

@ftw163532

I dunno, if you are that desperate to have alcohol at the cinema it sounds pretty problematic. No matter how many times you declare you don't have a drink problem.
This ☝️ Most folk might have a quick drink with a friend/partner/whatever before, or after the cinema. Why is it so important to smuggle alcohol into the cinema. Won’t trying to drink it covertly limit your enjoyment if it?
Donutdisaster · 21/09/2021 23:42

@Jellypot

The cinemas in my local city doesn't serve alcoholic drinks. I'm not an alcoholic by the way.

I was waiting for the James bond movie for a long time but covid came and it didn't come out. Its been a long year filled with so much shit. I'm not an alcoholic by the way. I do practice drink safety. I don't drink to get drunk. I would like to have some drinks when I go to the cinema. I want to pack my handbag with a bottle with me in my handbag. I want to enjoy some drinks while watching the movie to relax and unwind. I won't be falling out the door drunk.

Last time I was in the cinema my bag was checked or my handbag was taken off me.

Where do you live? Beirut??
Backwaterjunction · 22/09/2021 00:25

I’ve not known a cinema not to serve alcohol? But to be honest I could last a couple of hours without a drink and go for one after

Plus I’ve never had anything checked at the cinema never.

Giggorata · 22/09/2021 07:36

A wine bra! My day is made…

I have never had a bag checked at a cinema, not even in central London during the bombing phase in the 70s.
Nowadays, we have been known to have a full-on picnic, wine included, watching a film in our local cinema.

ManifestDestinee · 22/09/2021 10:00

Why would someone want alcohol just to see a film unless they had a problem? (Or is that just me that thinks that)

Why would anyone want alcohol just to have dinner unless they had a problem?
Why would anyone want alcohol just to go to a party unless they had a problem?
Why would anyone want alcohol just to go to a bar unless they had a problem?

It's nice, that's why. It's nice to relax and have a drink with a film. Not an indication of an alcohol problem!

Where I live there is a cinema with tables in between the huge armchair seats where you ring a silent bell and they bring you cocktails and snacks. Now that's civilised.

DiamondBright · 22/09/2021 15:51

Isn't it weird, I've never seen alcohol served in a cinema and yet (presumably) in the same country other people say they've never known a cinema NOT serve alcohol. The difference between London and the big cities and the rest of the country ??

SpindleWorld · 22/09/2021 15:59

Sleeves.

When I lived in Newcastle there were all-night screenings of certain genre films, usually Sci-Fi or Arnie, at the old cinema near the Central Station, and I'd hide half a bottle of vodka up each sleeve of my leather jacket.

The security only asked to look in your bag and at your torso, really. Most people NOT ME were off their tits on drugs anyway.

I am now a very boring middle-aged women and obviously not an alcoholic Wine

P.s. I think all Vues flog alcohol, at exorbitant prices?

Franklin12 · 22/09/2021 16:02

I go to the cinema all the time. Have a annual pass and honestly the most annoying thing is some people seem to be unable to sit somewhere for 90 mins or so without stuffing their faces with smelly hotdogs, popcorn, buckets of coke and sweets.

Alcohol is the least of my bugbears!

And no - I have never had my bags searched.

Veryverycalmnow · 22/09/2021 16:03

Never had bag searched at cinema.

ManifestDestinee · 22/09/2021 16:25

A teenager asked to search my bag going in to a cinema years ago, I just said no, smiled at him and went on in. Grin

TonTonMacoute · 22/09/2021 17:00

the most annoying thing is some people seem to be unable to sit somewhere for 90 mins or so without stuffing their faces with smelly hotdogs, popcorn, buckets of coke and sweets

This!

This is why I don't go to the cinema any more - it costs a fortune and you are surrounded by people munching smelly food and slurping noisy drinks. The carpets and seats are disgustingly sticky and if there are any kids there they are bouncing off the walls by half time.

No thanks!

Kanaloa · 22/09/2021 17:25

@DiamondBright

Isn't it weird, I've never seen alcohol served in a cinema and yet (presumably) in the same country other people say they've never known a cinema NOT serve alcohol. The difference between London and the big cities and the rest of the country ??
I’m not in London, so not sure. In my experience all Odeons at least sell alcohol.

The thing is, it won’t be in the fridge out in retail. It’s in a small fridge behind the counter, so if you don’t drink at the cinema you might never have noticed. Generally it’s little bottles of wine and beers, cans of gin and the like.

patq1967 · 22/09/2021 18:23

put it in a Lucozade bottle

LoobyLoo515 · 22/09/2021 21:42

Jeez, I can’t believe this is being asked. If you really can’t last the length of a film to drink then the obvious solution is just to take the spirits in the small cans, decant some into a water bottle/empty juice bottle or take some miniatures to mix with coke etc. The only reason you’d get chucked out would be if you were causing a disturbance. Hardly rocket science.

ElizabethBoland · 22/09/2021 22:58

Is this a joke??? I have never heard of or had my bag taken off me or searched to go into a cinema. It’s a cinema. Not a flipping airport, and my local cinema is in an outlet so 100% they don’t take your shopping off you.

Ddot · 23/09/2021 06:43

Juice box, squeeze out contents, tiny funnel through straw hole, fill with wine. Seal hole with tape, job done, make sure u keep upright.
Wine gums 🤣

BikeRunSki · 23/09/2021 09:55

You need a coat with big pockets and some tins of wine/g&t. I’ve never done this with booze (country bumpkin who has to drive to cinema), but often with chic ices from the standard pricedshop next door.

SpindleWorld · 23/09/2021 10:04

Get a wine box, shove a big straw in it, and write 'orange juice' on it with crayon.

Bertiebiscuit · 25/09/2021 18:40

They shouldn't be searching your bag abd really shouldn't be taking it off you - go to a different cinema and take white wine or vodka in a water bottle - f*ck em

HalzTangz · 25/09/2021 19:19

Why can't you relax and unwind without alcohol?

HalzTangz · 25/09/2021 19:36

Just looked on the websites for Odeon, Cineworld and Showcase.

All three say you can't take alcohol (not purchased direct from them) or hot food.

Any customers caught with either item will be asked to leave the cinema

HalzTangz · 25/09/2021 19:38

It is actually annoying. I went to see bohemian rhapsody, some bloke 2 rows In front was drinking from glass beer bottles, when empty putting on floor and clanking them every time he moved his foot. Totally spoiled the film for me and I would think many others trying to watch it in peace