Council talks alcohol sales at Harkins
Theater applies for liquor license
Typically, the Yuma City Council approves liquor license applications as part of the consent agenda and hardly ever comments on them. However, an application on Wednesday’s agenda solicited discussion among the council members.
Harkins Theatres, located at 1321 S. Yuma Palms Parkway, applied for a beer and wine bar liquor license transfer from La Isla Bar and Grill in Somerton.
The license application was posted at the theater for 20 days, and the city did not receive arguments in favor or opposed to the issuance of the license, according to a staff report.
The city’s community development, police, fire and business licensing departments reviewed the application, with no objections.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Councilman Mike Shelton asked that Harkin’s application be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion. Shelton asked for more information about the setting in which alcohol would be sold.
Alex Verkruijsse, alcohol service area manager for Harkins Theatres, explained that alcohol would be served in a separate bar and lounge built inside the theater, not at the concession stand that offers the usual snacks and nonalcoholic drinks.
Only guests 21 and over could enter the lounge and bar area. Employees will be trained as required by the state for acquisition of a liquor license, and the theater will also have an ID card reader. Guests will also receive wristbands that will allow them to buy alcohol.
The theater will have a two-drink maximum per person, which is stricter than the state liquor law, Verkruijsse said. He later clarified that the drink size is 20 ounces and the maximum is per transaction, so a guest could go back for more drinks, two at a time.
However, Verkruijsse added, bartenders will be trained to ensure guests are consuming alcohol responsibly. In addition, Harkins will add an alcohol compliance manager to the staff and this manager will go into the individual auditoriums two times per showing to make sure those consuming alcohol are not causing disturbances nor passing out.
Verkruijsse stressed that Harkins takes guest safety and the movie-going experience “very seriously.” Alcohol, he said, is only an added amenity second to the movie experience.
“We’re being very cautious who we serve and how much we serve,” he said, noting that the bartender will only serve alcohol if he or she feels the sale is responsible.
Harkins already has five theaters serving alcohol in the state, with two more out of state, and expects to have several more by the end of the year.
Shelton said he thought 20 ounces was “pretty steep” and wished him “good luck and may you never call YPD.”
Councilman Edward Thomas joked that he dozes off during “dry spots” in movies so he hoped staff wouldn’t mistake him for an intoxicated guest. Thomas then asked if staff would attempt to de-escalate a situation before calling police. Verkruijsse said yes and that staff would also receive in-house training on how to handle unruly guests.
Thomas also asked how they could check guests when an auditorium is dark. Verkruijsse explained that managers already walk in an “H circle” around auditoriums to check the sound, picture, temperature and make sure no one is videotaping. They will now also check on guests consuming alcohol. He said there is enough lighting coming from the screen to see guests, but they also carry flashlights if they need to check an ID and two-way radios if they need to contact the alcohol compliance manager.
Councilman Gary Wright said he was concerned, as an educator for 30 years, about minor consumption and noted that guests share popcorn and hopefully they wouldn’t also be sharing alcoholic beverages.
Harkins will post the required signs to comply with state law, such as the pregnancy warning, no firearms, must be 21 and older and at exit doors saying no alcohol beyond the premises.
With council recommending approval, the application will now be forwarded to the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control for final processing.