Roxy Theatre owner Michael Sharpe is calling for a change to B.C.'s "archaic" liquor rules to allow alcohol to be served at adult-only evening showings in his single-screen theatre on Quadra Street.

The call comes as the province is reviewing its liquor regulations, including whether to permit alcohol in movie theatres, the general manager of B.C.'s liquor control and licensing branch said Tuesday. A decision is expected within a month or two.

Under B.C. rules, movie theatres are not eligible for a liquor-primary licence.

That's the challenge for the owner of Vancouver's Rio Theatre, built in 1938, which was recently granted a liquor licence but has been forced to stop showing movies. The Rio also hosts live events.

Supporters of the Rio are backing that venue's drive to be allowed to show movies and sell liquor by setting up an online petition and winning backing from a city councillor.

Sharpe has met with B.C. cabinet ministers and has approached City of Victoria officials with the aim of winning an endorsement from council for his vision. He has not applied for a primary liquor licence.

Ideally, he said, the Roxy — the city's only independently owned, regularly operating single-screen theatre — would be allowed to sell alcohol at set times during the evenings for a showing of a movie, or during other types of special events, with only adults permitted entry.

As it is, evening showings generally attract an older audience, he said.

Sharpe wants to continue offering matinées and have one night a week with an option to not sell liquor and offer entertainment, including movies, for the under-19 crowd.

The plan is to turn the Roxy, which is more than 60 years old, into more of a multi-purpose venue featuring live events as well as movies.

"This is an opportunity here, I think, to expand the arts in Victoria," Sharpe said.

"As a single-screen movie theatre owner, pressure is on when it comes to competing for films, generating enough revenue to convert to digital projection — film is no longer in production after 2012 — and only having one screen," he said.

A new digital projector will cost $50,000, he added. "It's a tough nut to swallow."

Sharpe said he hopes that the liquor laws will be amended and he is pulling the Roxy off the market. It has been listed for $980,000 after going up for sale in mid-2010.

Karen Ayers, liquor branch manager, said that historically, one of the significant considerations has been that a large number of movie-goers are youth, watching shows in dark theatres, and typically staff are not present during the show, unlike pubs or restaurants where staff are nearby and able to observe what is going on.

Some provinces have in recent years approved movie theatres that have age restrictions. Ontario has what are called VIP theatres operating on that basis, Ayers said.

Alberta has given approval for a similar setup, and Manitoba recently announced that it intends to move in the same direction.

"B.C. is also looking at options for changing several liquor laws, including the licensing of movie theatres," Ayers said.

"So it is something under active consideration here."

Venues such as the Royal and MacPherson theatres and stadiums have live-event liquor licences that allow them to serve liquor for an hour before an event, during the event, and up to an hour afterward, Ayers said.

Liquor services are negotiated with venues. For example, stadiums serve beer and wine only. "There are restrictions depending on the type of venue."

Ayers said it typically takes between seven to 12 months to obtain a liquor primary licence. The process includes close scrutiny of the application by local government and the community.

cjwilson@timescolonist.com