You Could Soon Be Able to Order Booze at the Movies in NYC

If the only way you could sit through Fifty Shades Darker is by drinking heavily, you might be in luck—especially if you live in New York. On Tuesday night, the state's governor, Andrew Cuomo, released his $152.3 billion executive budget proposal, and sure, there's some stuff about state college tuition and middle-class tax cuts, but he also addressed a crucial issue: allowing booze at the movies.

Cuomo reiterated his focus on tourism and the I LOVE NY advertising initiative, which encourages travelers to explore the parts of the state that stretch past Times Square. Part of that campaign, going forward, might be allowing movie theaters to start selling wine and beer, with some added motivation for movie houses to serve beers or wines that are produced in the state.

"It would be joined with an incentive program, to incentivize the movie theaters to sell New York wine and beer. It is a very big industry for us, we have developed it," Cuomo said. "It's especially successful in upstate New York. It would require a law change to allow alcohol and beer to be sold in a movie theater and to incentivize New York products to be sold in that venue."

Will movie theaters be able to sell spirits? "Oh no no no," laughs Cuomo. "Let's not go too far now." Wine & beer only.

— Kate Hinds (@katehinds) January 18, 2017

According to his proposed plan, the state would begin issuing Motion Picture Theater Alcohol Permits that would allow the theaters to sell wine and beer. (Right now, only movie theaters that have on-site kitchens are currently allowed to offer adult beverages to their customers, CNY Central reports). When asked whether this plan would eventually include liquor sales in theaters, Cuomo reportedly said, "Let's not go too far now."

The only other restriction is that beer and wine buyers must also have tickets to a movie rated PG-13 or higher. There has not yet been a timetable for implementing this plan—or allowing theaters to apply for those permits—but man, we hope it happens before February 10.

Fifty Shades Darker comes out that day. Bring on the pinot grigio.