Basque Consumer Institute Kontsumobide, Dümen Cinemas 30,001 euro fine Preventing users from accessing facilities with food purchased from abroad.
This organization launched an investigation in January. Complaints made by eight individuals and two complaints made by consumer associations: Basque People and Consumers Association (EKA/ACUV) and Facua Consumers in Action.
The sanction imposed is not yet final, as Yelmo Cines has submitted a statement. attractiveKontsumobide explained to EFE that the administrative process has therefore not been completed yet.
In the case filed by EKA/ACUV, Megapark and Artea cinemas on Bizkaia and Boulevard de Vitoria Since the beginning of this year, it has been banned from promoting food and drinks purchased outside of these establishments.
Realizing that this was “abuse”, the organization demanded a penalty of up to 150 thousand euros on the grounds that it was a “serious consumer violation”.
“The main activity provided by Yelmo Films is the exhibition ando It is legal to ban bringing in outside food unless your main activity is hospitality or it is generally prohibited“, this was announced in an EKA/ACUV memo on Monday.
In the same vein, Facua argued in his article that the main activity of a cinema is not restoration but film screening, so it is not valid for them to use this excuse to prevent the entrance of the cinema with food and beverages from outside. Food can also be purchased on-site.
In the Madrid Region, this consumer association took Yelmo Cines to court for the same reason.
There are signs in the chain’s cinemas that say, “The company does not allow food and/or beverages purchased outside of Yelmo to enter these facilities, therefore the right of entry is reserved,” as the chain warns on its website. Facua explained in a note when selling the tickets.
Company “one claim to right of admission“This is, in his view, against the legislation. The service of obscurity is not the primary defining activity of the cinema, so he cannot exercise this right of entry as if it were a restaurant.”
Facua also suggests that the film exhibition event “co-exists” regardless of whether the company offers an unspecified service“This does not need this for its existence.”
Currently this procedure is still awaiting hearing and subsequent resolution.