CLINTON — The city council approved Monday a change to the liquor code that will permit Clintonia Eagle Theater to serve alcohol to patrons of legal drinking age.  Theater owner Eric Gubelman said his Streator, Ill. theater already began serving alcohol about a year ago.

Gubelman explained what he had planned for the Clinton theater based partly on trends in the theater industry.  Commissioners asked him to address concerns they had about the issue.

The change to the code creates a type of liquor license the city has never before granted.

Alcohol served in movie theater has been a growing trend over the past few years.  Theater owners Gubelman talked to in the past reported they had no problems because they used wristbands to emphasize patrons had to be of age.

“So, when we did a theater in Streator last December, we were able to get a full liquor license, and we’ve had zero problems,” Gubelman said.

He said part of the reason was because the theater’s staff was well trained, “and because the drinks are too expensive to get drunk.”

Gubelman said their drink prices hover toward the price someone would pay at a Major League ball park.

He said the trend toward alcohol in theaters has been driven by the need for theater, “to be more than movie theaters.”  Clintonia Eagle, for example, runs broadcast NFL Monday football and the cable show “The Walking Dead” as part of its expanded offerings.  

One of Gubelman’s theaters also now offers frozen yogurt.

“We need to do more of that,” he said.  “We need to offer more options so they can come and make a full night out of it,”

He said frozen yogurt was a possibility at the Clintonia Eagle as well as some type of quick service meals in the future.

Commissioners John Wise and Tom Edmunds expressed concern about how under age patrons and children would be kept clear of the potential influence of alcohol in the theater.  Gubelman said he could accept as part of the ordinance the restriction of alcohol only to auditoriums screening PG, PG13 and R-rated films.  Alcohol would not be allowed in films rated G.

He also said he would be willing to not serve alcohol during the summer kids matinees.

Edmunds had reservations about traffic that included minors still being in areas where alcohol was served.  Other city liquor license classifications prohibit minors from bar areas or require accompaniment by a parent or guardian in other areas where alcohol is served.

Edmunds was the single vote against the code change.

Following the vote, commissioner Dan Ballenger addressed a letter sent to the council by former mayor Carolyn Peters.  Peters has traditionally opposed local expansion of alcohol and gaming.

In her letter, Peters criticized commissioners for a lack of council discussion on the matter, at least at the Oct. 3 meeting.  The proposed change was placed on file at that time.  She also wrote she hoped there would be more discussion about Clinton being family friendly and not geared toward adult entertainment.

She also appeared in her letter to question members’ “moral compass” and “Christian values.”

“Do not attack us about our religion,” Ballenger responded.

Wise, too, had taken exception to Peters’ “moral compass” comment just before Monday’s vote.  Wise has in the past been vocal in his opposition of liquor and gaming expansion, but voted in favor of Monday’s measure after Gubelman agreed to the discussed restrictions.

Peters also mentioned in her letter concerns about when alcohol could be served at the theater, issues that the council addressed on Monday.

Peters was unable to attend the Monday council meeting.