Moviegoers 17, younger will need adult supervision for later shows

On Friday, Beacon Stadium Cinemas 12 started a daily curfew that requires moviegoers under the age of 17 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian after 8:30 p.m. after complaints about disruptive unaccompanied minors.

About 67 young people were turned away last weekend because parents or guardians did not come with them, said Mike Ward, senior corporal with Sumter Police Department and member of Beacon theater security.

After receiving multiple complaints, Beacon management suggested to Sumter Police Department, which provides theater security on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, that a curfew be created, and the department complied.

Ward said 25 to 30 teenagers were told to leave the theater because they were going into multiple theaters, running down the halls and talking and using their cellphones during the movies each weekend.

Disorderly unaccompanied minors have also disrupted Beacon’s weekend revenue, according to Ward.

He said some older individuals and families have stopped going to the movies on the weekends because of the rowdy atmosphere.

The theater dishes out 20 to 30 refunds or replacement tickets on the weekends because patrons cannot enjoy the movies, Ward said.

Some teenagers can control themselves, but those who cannot need the curfew and need adult supervision, he said.

If the parents or guardians are there, they can see what their children are doing and the children will be behave better, he said.

The curfew does not apply to people attending movies that start before 8:30 p.m., according to the curfew notification.

Ward said once someone has been asked to leave the theater, he or she is then considered to be trespassing if he or she remains on the property.

Wesmark Plaza and the individual stores located in the plaza have signs discouraging solicitation so those who are just hanging around in the plaza are already breaking the law, he said.

For more information or concerns regarding the curfew, contact Beacon Stadium Cinemas 12 managers at (803) 778-2692.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Moviegoers 17, younger will need adult supervision for later shows."