@keobooks Thank you. The cost of snacks at the concession stand were higher than the local shops, but still within budget of my teenage allowance of less than one US dollar a week, supplemented by odd-jobs in the neighborhood, like babysitting. At that age, if I wanted to spend money on movies, it was my choice, but I had to earn it.
@JLeslie If there is a sign on entrance door that says, “Outside food and drinks prohibited”, then it is a rule established by the ownership. There is a logical reason behind it. We the customers aren’t always privy to it.
@jca I don’t claim to be morally just either. I have by-passed rules more than once for a variety of rationalizations at the time. The difference between us seems to be that I later feel guilty for it due to the negative impact that it may inflict on others, be it a loved one who learns the value of morals from actions or others, like the employees of that cinema.
Here is one blog that gives a researched breakdown of where the cost of a movie ticket goes. Economics of the Movie Theater – Where The Money Goes and Why it Costs Us So Much.
The author of the article has a point. In order to stop the madness of the expense of attending a movie in a theater today, it has to start with those who own the cinema chains. They are the ones who can band together and take back control of ticket costs instead of passively sitting by and increasing the concession prices in order to offset costs. That is proving to be a failure on several grounds.
Cinema employees that turn a blind eye when customers smuggle in food and drinks that aren’t purchased on-site are those that not only have no desire to be the theater police unless someone else complains, but they wouldn’t be willing to shell out the money charged at the establishment where they work.