Spice up a movie with an alcoholic beverage

Back in the day, if you wanted to drink alcohol in a movie theater you had to smuggle in a flask to spike an overpriced soda. Luckily, for the love of cinema soaks everywhere, more and more theaters are adding alcohol to the menu along with the usual popcorn-and-Junior Mints fare.

The Oriental Theatre, 2270 N. Farwell Ave., added a bar to the vending area just a few months ago. It sports 10 or 11 rotating beers that currently include Riverwest Stein, Sprecher Abbey Triple, Guinness, Newcastle and Spotted Cow. The price of beer ranges from $4 for a domestic to $4.75 for an import or micro brew.

The Oriental's bar also offers wine by the glass for $7 or a bottle for $26. The current selection includes Red Rock merlot, J.J. Muller riesling, Ecco Domani pinot grigio, Lindemans chardonnay and more. Some cocktails are available, too.

"At first sales were slow, but they are pretty solid now," says manager Eric Levin.

The bar is open for all screenings, except the midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Saturday nights because the majority of the crowd is underage.

So far, the Oriental Theatre has not had a problem with inebriation despite the addition of alcoholic beverages.

"Most people don't come to films to get wasted," says Levin.

Other Milwaukee-area movie theaters that serve alcohol:

Fox Bay Cinema Grill
334 E. Silver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay, (414) 906-9999
foxbaycinemagrill.com

iPic Entertainment
5800 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale, (414) 963-8779
ipicentertainment.com

Majestic Cinema
770 Springdale Rd., Waukesha, (262) 798-6800
marcusmajestic.com

North Shore Cinema
11700 N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon, (262) 241-6180

Rosebud Cinema
6823 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, (414) 607-9446
timescinema.com

Times Cinema
5906 W. Vliet St., (414) 453-3128
timescinema.com