A Crestwood movie theater will become the only first-run theater in the Birmingham area and among the few in Alabama to offer beer and wine to moviegoers.

The Birmingham City Council Tuesday approved a beer and wine license for The Edge 12 Movie Theater. The Edge joins a trend, more prevalent in some parts of the country, of first-run theaters selling alcoholic drinks. Monaco Pictures, a theater in Huntsville, also offers the beverages and an adults-only VIP section.

City Councilman Johnathan Austin, chairman of the public safety committee, said alcohol privileges would allow the business to expand its customer base.

The Edge opened last fall in the Eastwood Festival Centre at the site of the former Regal Cinemas Festival 12, which closed in 2006. The only other first-run movie theater within the city limits is off U.S. 280 at The Summit.

"Their whole model is different, and it's generally not what you'd see in a movie theater," Austin said of the theater that offers self-serve soft drinks, independent films and foreign films along with Hollywood releases. "Hopefully we'll be able to generate more business in that area by bringing more people to the movie theater."

The Crestwood location is the second movie house owned by Naos Entertainment. Marty Felts, president and CEO, has said his company's niche is offering quality theaters to traditionally underserved areas. Efforts to reach Felts for comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Of the 5,600 first-run theaters in the United States, several hundred serve alcohol and food, most notably in Texas and along the East Coast, said Patrick Corcoran, director of media and research for the National Association of Theatre Owners, the industry trade group.

Corcoran said the trend marries the traditional "dinner and a movie" date night concept.

"Movie theaters are looking at ways to broaden their appeal, particularly to adults, and one of the ways is offering restaurant service and alcohol service," Corcoran said.

The combination of movies with restaurant food and alcohol was mostly reserved for second-run theaters until the 1990s, when Disney released a first-run feature at a Texas theater that sold alcohol.

"It has been growing since then," Corcoran said.

It was unclear Tuesday whether the plans for The Edge include expanded food offerings. City officials said that, as far as they knew, that possibility had not been mentioned.

The Edge's application was endorsed by the Crestwood South Neighborhood Association.

"We think there are a lot of people in our area who would enjoy going to a theater and having a sip or two of wine while they are watching," said Joe Knott, past neighborhood president and current secretary. "They'll obey the law and do what's necessary. They've been very competent in reopening that theater, and I have no doubt they'll be very zealous in doing the right thing regarding this liquor license."

Councilwoman Kim Rafferty, whose district includes the theater, said she was concerned about the change.

Rafferty, who was not present during Tuesday's council vote, questioned how the theater would control underage drinking in a dark environment.

"I don't have a problem with a type of establishment such as this. I just have a problem with a mixed customer base where you're mixing the children and adults," Rafferty said in an interview. "If this was a restaurant facility you don't have a problem, but this is a little bit different because it is an unmonitored venue when you're talking about dark spaces with people drinking."

Corcoran said theater officials nationwide have established methods to ensure responsible alcohol consumption similar to that in restaurants. They include using armbands to quickly identify customers 21 and older and limiting beer and wine to specific theater areas such as balconies.

Austin said Felts was given an early admonition about the consequences of irresponsible alcohol vending, which could include revoking his business license and liquor license.

"They will be under the same rules and regulations as any other business operating with a beer and wine license and will be held to the same standards," he said.

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