Now, you can carry your own food into cinema halls

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has asked multiplex owners to permit movie-goers to bring their own food items as well as reduce the price of eatables sold inside the premises. Moviegoers will not have to pay more than the regular price for food, water and beverages sold at multiplexes, a state minister said.

People cannot be prohibited from carrying outside food and the government has given directives regarding this to owners of malls and multiplexes, said Ravindra Chavan, junior minister for food and civil supplies and consumer protection.

Food and beverages at high-end cinemas in India are often priced at a significant premium to their retail price in the market and help bulk up revenues for multiplex operators.

The government’s decision, which will be enforced from August 1, sent shares of multiplex operators tumbling, with PVR Ltd and INOX Leisure Ltd diving as much as 14.1% and 14%, respectively, on the broader NSE index that ended slightly lower.

“The Central government is coming up with a legislation on August 1 that will ensure food cannot be sold at different prices at different places,” Ravindra Chavan said. He was replying to the issue raised by Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde.

Chavan said the government has also clarified that there is no prohibition on taking outside food into the multiplexes and their owners were already given such instructions.

The Bombay High Court had recently said while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) that the food inside multiplexes should be sold at regular prices. The court also said that the people cannot be prohibited from taking their own food from in the multiplexes. The state government had assured the court that they were coming up with a policy to deal with the issue.