Movie Theater License Pending Legislation

Delaware Movie Theater Liquor License Changes Proposed

In April 2014, Representative Quinton Johnson introduced House Bill 299 to authorize the issuance of a movie theater liquor license in the State of Delaware. The bill was signed by the Governor in July 2014 and alcoholic beverages subsequently became available in Delaware movie theaters. See 5/11/15 News Journal Article.

Recently, in June 2019, the same legislator introduced House Bill 237 that would make operations under the movie theater license slightly less burdensome for the theatre licensee. The proposed changes would remove remote monitoring requirements (video cameras), and remove the requirement that a licensee or employee of the licensee walk through each theater during every showing. The current law requires that the employee passing through each theater be trained in serving alcohol. See 4 Del. Code § 522(f).

The proposed legislation is unlikely to be detrimental to the public because theaters are still only permitted to sell one beverage at a time per patron, with a maximum of two drinks per movie. See 4 Del. Code § 522(f).

The legislature is not currently in session but the bill will likely be considered during the next session.