Flouting this cinema rule could land you an alarming £50k fine

If you regularly go to the cinema, these are the rules and laws to be aware of
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Cinema-goers are being reminded of the fines they risk if they break a number of laws and rules when going to see their favourite films. Movie fans could end up facing a fine of up to £50,000 if they aren't careful.

Some people can be unruly in the cinema, but few people actually know the consequences of being disruptive during a film. Whether it’s talking through the movie or vaping in the cinema, viewers should be wary before ignoring several common cinema etiquette rules.

Below is a look at five common things Brits do in the cinema that could actually land them a hefty fine. As well as which of these frequent offenders and ones people find the most irritating, the Mirror reports.

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Recording

Recording the film can be considered as piracy, especially if you share the footage on another platform. Recording a film (or part of a film) in a cinema is illegal under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Anti-piracy laws are strictly enforced in the UK, with surveillance in place to catch offenders and the fine for this is just as serious as the law sounds with offenders risking a fine of up to £50,000 and even potential imprisonment.

Disruptive behaviour

There’s nothing worse than someone chatting the whole way through a film. Over 62% of Brits agree this is the most irritating cinema offence in a recent survey.

While some people might shrug off the disapproving looks of fellow cinema goers, talking loudly, answering a phone call, or causing disturbances to other viewers can not only result in being asked to leave, but some cinemas also reserve the right to fine or deny entry to disruptive individuals.

Underage viewing of age-restricted films

Similar to laws on selling alcohol, cinemas are responsible for ensuring that individuals meet the age requirements for films (12A, 15, 18). Failure to adhere can lead to fines for the cinema, not the individual.

The cinema themselves risk a fine of up to £20,000 for allowing underage viewers to watch films rated for higher age groups.

Vaping

Vaping is banned in cinemas under the UK’s smoke-free laws. Vaping is treated similarly to smoking under smoke-free legislation, which bans smoking in enclosed public spaces.

This includes cinemas. Although vaping doesn’t produce the same harmful second-hand smoke as cigarettes, the law carries hefty fines for individuals of £200 if they’re caught vaping in the cinema, including the lobby and the toilets.

Bringing in outside food

While not typically something you’ll be fined for, bringing in outside food and drink is something that causes a lot of confusion for Brits. While some may ridicule those who stick firmly to hiding their snacks under their jackets, you should actually be careful when bringing in food to the cinema.

Some cinemas do have strict policies against bringing in food from outside. Violators can be asked to dispose of the food or leave the cinema. Specifically, bringing in outside food wasn’t particularly offensive to cinema-goers, but over two thirds in a new survey did admit that eating loudly and eating smelly food was definitely displeasing.

Sneaky tipple

If you're planning on having an alcoholic drink in the cinema, you should check the cinema’s policy first. While many cinemas do hold alcohol licences, meaning they can sell alcohol on their premises, this usually comes with strict rules.

Licensing laws require alcohol consumption to be controlled and monitored. Allowing people to bring in their own alcohol could violate the terms of the licence.