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A cinema in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, has decided to prohibit unaccompanied under-16s from attending screenings after 7pm BST, unless they are accompanied by a “responsible adult”. This decision was made by Galeri following a rise in reports of disruptive behaviour linked to some younger visitors. Issues raised include teenagers shouting at other patrons, causing damage to seats, and using mobile phones to film during movies.
Galeri communicated this update through a statement on social media, expressing that the behaviour reported had become a “major concern” for the art centre. The cinema framed the new measure as a “temporary arrangement” while they work towards a more permanent solution. The statement also emphasized the aim of creating a pleasant experience for all guests, noting: “We are, with a heavy heart, introducing some temporary changes to our audience policies to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone.” It warned that if a responsible adult is not present after 7pm or if the age of attendees cannot be confirmed, access to the cinema will be denied.
Welsh film critic Gary Slaymaker, who frequently attends morning screenings to avoid disturbances, observed that anti-social behaviour in cinemas has worsened since the pandemic. He suggested that during lockdowns, viewers became accustomed to watching films on platforms like Netflix, where using phones and commenting on films simultaneously was common. Slaymaker said, “I’m guilty of watching the TV and using my phone at the same time but there is a difference between watching a film at home in the company of family [and going to the cinema].” He attributed the increase in phone usage inside cinemas to a shift in people’s attention spans and pointed out that the worst disruptors tend to be either the “very young or very old.”
In the past, Slaymaker mentioned that he has personally intervened to ask noisy patrons to stop talking, preferring this to informing cinema staff who are often students working part-time. He noted, “They shouldn’t have to face this nonsense,” but also recognized the potential dangers of confronting disruptive individuals due to uncertainty about who they might be dealing with. While describing it as an “extreme” idea, he supported the notion of implementing a lockbox system for mobile phones to enhance the cinema-going experience
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