People can be very unruly in the cinema, but few people actually know the consequences of being disruptive during a film.

Whether it’s talking through the movie or vaping in the cinema, Brits should be wary before ignoring these common cinema etiquette rules.

If you don’t follow the rules of the cinema, you could face fines of up to £50,000.

Researchers from Haypp reveal five common things Brits do in the cinema that could actually land them a hefty fine, and which of these frequent offenders Brits find the most irritating.

Can I bring alcohol into a cinema?

If you're planning on having an alcoholic drink in the cinema, you should definitely check the cinema’s policy first. While many cinemas do hold alcohol licences, meaning they can sell alcohol on their premises, this usually comes with strict rules.

Licensing laws require alcohol consumption to be controlled and monitored. Allowing people to bring in their own alcohol could violate the terms of the licence.

Underage Viewing of Age-Restricted Films

Similar to laws on selling alcohol, cinemas are responsible for ensuring that individuals meet the age requirements for films (12A, 15, 18). Failure to adhere can lead to fines for the cinema, not the individual.

The cinema themselves risk a fine of up to £20,000 for allowing underage viewers to watch films rated for higher age groups. Haypp’s data shows that a third of Brits feel uncomfortable viewing a film if underaged patrons have been allowed in.

Can I vape in a cinema?

Vaping is banned in cinemas under the UK’s smoke-free laws. Vaping is treated similarly to smoking under smoke-free legislation, which bans smoking in enclosed public spaces.

This includes cinemas. Although vaping doesn’t produce the same harmful secondhand smoke as cigarettes, the law carries hefty fines for individuals of £200 if they’re caught vaping in the cinema, including the lobby and the toilets.

Can I bring food into a cinema?

While not typically something you’ll be fined for, bringing in outside food and drink is something that causes a lot of confusion for Brits. While some may ridicule those who stick firmly to hiding their snacks under their jackets, you should actually be careful when bringing in food to the cinema.

Some cinemas do  have strict policies against bringing in food from outside. Violators can be asked to dispose of the food or leave the cinema. Specifically, bringing in outside food wasn’t particularly offensive to cinema-goers, but over two thirds did admit that eating loudly and eating smelly food was definitely displeasing.

Recording in a cinema

Recording the film can actually be considered as piracy, especially if you share the footage to another platform. Recording a film (or part of a film) in a cinema is illegal under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Anti-piracy laws are strictly enforced in the UK, with surveillance in place to catch offenders and the fine for this is just as serious as the law sounds with offenders risking a fine of up to £50,000 and even potential imprisonment.

Surprisingly, new data by Haypp shows that seeing others filming did not affect movie-loving Brits, with as little as 5% caring if other viewers’ cameras were out.