An Israeli lawmaker is hoping to butter up voters and pass a law that would limit outrageous popcorn prices at the movies.
Carmel Shama, from the governing Likud party, plans to bring the "popcorn law" for a vote when parliament returns from its Passover break next week, the mass-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported Wednesday.
"We have to put an end to this. The public should not have to mortgage their houses for a soft drink and a snack," Shama told the paper.
A large box of popcorn usually sells for about five dollars (four euros) at theatre concession stands, more than double what it costs at a supermarket and 10 times more than it would cost to make at home.
Shama said he had support from both the government and opposition lawmakers for the move that would put limits on what theatres and other public entertainment venues, like sports stadiums, could charge to captive audiences.
However, cinema owners slammed the move, saying it was a populist measure that ignored the free market.
Yaacov Cohen, the owner of one of Israel's largest theatre complexes, said owners made virtually no profit from ticket sales and would be hard pressed to survive if food sales were limited.
"It would destroy the entire industry," he told Yediot.
Oh geeze, do they HAVE to give the US more ideas for govt takeover??
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pdh825
March 31, 2010, 11:00am
Guest User
Having worked as manager of a downstate 10 screen multiplex, I know for a fact that the markup on all snacks at a theater is outrageous. The cost for the 50# bag of corn we got was roughly $10-$15 back in the late 80's and one bag produced enough product to last a Friday night (2 shows) and a Saturday afternoon (3 shows) with an average attendance of 200 patrons per show. We sold in tubs, not those wimpy bags you see now. It cost us roughly 5 to 10 cents per large tub to make and we sold them for $5 each.
That my friend is called capitalism. Whatever the market will bear. If people don't spend $5 - they'll lower the price. If $5 is too easy, the price goes up. Supply and demand - that's what makes America great (until now)
Since this is coming from Israel, I would say the idea came from someone who is celebrating Passover and popcorn is a prohibited food during the week. This idea probably came from someone who is missing levening this week.
That my friend is called capitalism. Whatever the market will bear. If people don't spend $5 - they'll lower the price. If $5 is too easy, the price goes up. Supply and demand - that's what makes America great (until now)
EXACTLY....Well said!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
That my friend is called capitalism. Whatever the market will bear. If people don't spend $5 - they'll lower the price. If $5 is too easy, the price goes up. Supply and demand - that's what makes America great (until now)
Indeed, economics 101. A lot of it is about pure greed too.
OF COURSE it's greed.....but,,,guess what....popcorn and movies are not necessities.......kind of like the greedy baseball players and the leagues......how much to go to a stupid professional baseball game? and folks still buy it/support it and wear their names and numbers on over priced tee-shirts........
baaaaaaaa.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Movie theaters make most of their profit off the concession, so of course they are marking it up. 1st week of a movie the theaters usually get 0-10% of the sales, but they have to sell the tickets, pay ushers, pay the film guy, so of course they pass the costs on to the consumer. It's not capitalism, its business
Funny part of that article..."A large box of popcorn usually sells for about five dollars (four euros) at theatre concession stands, more than double what it costs at a supermarket and 10 times more than it would cost to make at home."
Wouldn't you buy it at the supermarket then take it home?
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