How much would beer cost? Buying alcohol in Macon’s movie theater could become reality

Buying alcohol at a movie theater is a rising trend across the U.S., and it could happen in Macon.

The AmStar 16-Macon theater could get approval to sell beer and wine, although it’s not coming without opposition. The Bibb County Commission will vote next week on whether to grant an alcohol license for the Zebulon Road theater.

A County Commission committee voted 5-2 Tuesday to place the license measure back onto next week’s regular meeting agenda.

Commissioners Elaine Lucas and Valerie Wynn said they oppose the alcohol license. Wynn said one of her concerns is what could happen when someone drinks alcohol prior to going to watch a movie and gets a little rowdy.

“I realize it’s a thing that’s coming to everywhere,” she said. “I have been to other cities where they do have it. It’s just, you can’t live a couple hours without some alcohol?”

Anyone who attempts to purchase alcohol at AmStar 16-Macon will be required to show identification. Only one alcoholic beverage can be purchased at a time, said Michelle Duren, regional director of operations for Southern Theatres, which operates the Macon theater.

Beer and wine would be sold in cans with the cost likely ranging from $7 to $8. Southern Theatres currently sells alcohol at 14 of its 18 locations throughout the Southeast, Duren said.

“I’ve been with the company for 19 years and we’ve been serving alcoholic beverages for 10-plus,” she said. “I’ve never had any kind of citation, incident, incident report.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, in early 2017 alcohol was already being sold at more than 400 locations of three movie chains in the U.S.

“Almost all of the traditional theaters in Atlanta have beer, wine or full bar,” Duren said. “Probably about 80 percent of traditional theaters in the United States now offer beer or wine. It’s a growing trend.”

This story was originally published March 26, 2019 at 4:10 PM.