A request to sell beer and wine inside a west Mobile movie theater has turned into one of the more emotionally charged local debates of the fall, pitting a national theater chain against residents who see the multiplex as one of the last alcohol-free gathering spots for teenagers in the area. Carmike Inc., the Georgia-based company that operates the Wynnsong 16 complex, is seeking a liquor license that would allow beer and wine sales inside the theater.
Opponents, including a local Baptist church that submitted roughly 700 signatures against the license during a recent City Council meeting, argue the theater is one of the few remaining family-friendly businesses that stays free of alcohol. Members of Mobile’s Underage Drinking Task Force have raised concerns that adding alcohol sales to a popular teen hangout would create new opportunities for minors to access beer and wine, whether through direct purchase attempts or drinks left unattended in darkened auditoriums.
The attorney representing Carmike in its bid for the license said the same objections have surfaced in other Alabama cities weighing similar requests, including Montgomery, where the council approved a license for a Carmike IMAX theater, and Gulf Shores, where the council initially rejected a request before the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board overturned that decision on appeal.
To address concerns, Carmike has proposed a list of safeguards for the Wynnsong location, including a two-drink limit per patron, wristbands for those over 21 who purchase alcohol, separate clear cups for alcoholic drinks, a dedicated cash register for alcohol sales, and additional security staffing during peak hours such as weekend evenings and movie premieres. The company has also floated the idea of hiring off-duty police officers to help enforce underage drinking laws and has said it would consider installing security cameras or designating an alcohol-only auditorium if city officials requested it.
Industry representatives say the push toward alcohol sales reflects broader competitive pressure on movie theaters from home streaming services, with theater chains nationally increasingly retrofitting auditoriums and lobbies to offer food and drink service alongside first-run films. Even so, industry figures suggest only a small share of theaters nationwide currently hold licenses to serve alcohol.
The Mobile City Council held a committee meeting to gather additional public input before a scheduled vote on the license in early October. Council members acknowledged the strength of feeling on both sides, with at least one councilwoman saying the volume of opposition in western Mobile neighborhoods warranted the additional hearing before any final decision.