Idaho house panel endorses lifting ban on mixing alcohol with racy films
With little comment, a House committee Tuesday unanimously endorsed a measure to revise restrictions on mixing alcohol with racy films in theaters.
Idaho liquor law now makes it illegal for sexually explicit films to be shown in venues where alcohol is served. The proposed change would eliminate that section of law. Other laws already bar certain films based on state indecency and obscenity standards, as well as federal pornography laws, State Police Capt. Russ Wheatley, head of the ISPs Alcohol Beverage Control unit, told the House State Affairs committee Tuesday.
The legislation addresses a situation last year at the Village Cinema in Meridian, which faced the loss of its alcohol license after the 2015 run of the film “50 Shades of Grey.”
“This is a good clean-up bill to strengthen First Amendment protections of speech and expression,” said Rep. John McCrostie, D-Garden City.
The panel referred the bill to the full House with a recommendation to pass it.
Bill Dentzer: 208-377-6438, @IDSBillD
This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 10:37 AM with the headline "Idaho house panel endorses lifting ban on mixing alcohol with racy films."