“It is a win-win policy for both cinemas and consumers,” said an official from the GIO’s Department of Motion Pictures. “Lifting the ban on outside snack foods will entice more film buffs to visit theaters.”
According to the GIO, cinemas that violate the regulation will receive warnings, with repeat offenders fined NT$60,000 (US$1,868) to NT$150,000 per incident.
But not all snacks have been given the official nod for consumption in front of the silver screen. The GIO said cinemagoers are encouraged not to consume food with a strong odor or which is noisy to eat.
“It is not easy to sort this matter out,” the GIO official said. “Theaters are authorized to draw up their own lists of prohibited outside snacks.”
According to sources familiar with the matter, alcohol, beetle nut, durian fruit, fried chicken, stinky tofu and watermelon seeds are expected to remain off limits in local cinemas.
Tsai Sheng-hsiang of Taipei-based Ambassador Theatres said cinema owners were willing to comply with government regulations and would make necessary adjustments to protect the rights of customers. (KP-THN-JSM)