Cinema ban on unaccompanied under-16s after damaged seats and bad behaviour

BBC

A cinema has banned under-16s from screenings after 19:00 BST unless they are accompanied by a "responsible adult".

Galeri in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, announced the change following increasing reports of anti-social behaviour from "some young people" visiting the cinema.

Complaints included teens shouting at customers and damaging seats, filming on mobile phones during screenings and acting in a disruptive manner.

In a statement shared on social media, Galeri said the reports were a "major concern" for the art centre but said the change was a "temporary arrangement" while it worked on a "longer-term solution".

It added: "We are, with a heavy heart, introducing some temporary changes to our audience policies to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone."

The cinema continued: "If a responsible adult is not present [after 19:00], or if age cannot be verified, entry to the cinema will not be permitted."

'Worse since lockdown'

Welsh film critic Gary Slaymaker said he goes to morning screenings to avoid anti-social behaviour, which he claimed had got worse since the pandemic.

"When cinemas were closed, a lot of us turned to Netflix where you could go on your phone and comment on a film whilst watching it.

"I'm guilty of watching the TV and using my phone at the same time but there is a difference between watching a film at home in the company of family [and going to the cinema]."

Slaymaker said he had noticed an increase in people using their phones in the cinema, which he put down to "changes in people's attention span".

He said the worst offenders when it came to cinema etiquette were the "very young or very old".

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The critic added he had in the past asked people to stop talking at the cinema rather than telling staff, most of whom were students doing a part-time job.

"They shouldn't have to face this nonsense," he said.

But he acknowledged the risks of challenging noisy individuals directly because "you don't know who you are confronting".

Slaymaker said while "extreme", a lockbox for mobile phones would help improve the cinema experience.