The Madras High Court has emphasized that cinema halls, if prohibiting patrons from bringing water from outside for security reasons, should offer free, portable, and pure drinking water to moviegoers. The ruling was made during the hearing of a petition filed in 2016 against the higher pricing of water and juice compared to Maximum Retail Price (MRP) at a food stall in S2 cinemas in Tamil Nadu.

Justice SM Subramaniam noted that while cinema owners may enforce a ban on carrying outside water, they must provide free and safe drinking water through water coolers within the cinema halls. The court directed the installation of water purifiers within the coolers to ensure the water is impurity-free. It also mandated a sufficient number of disposable glasses to be made available near the coolers, with the water purifiers regularly serviced and fully functional.

The court emphasized continuous access to drinking water for cinema-goers before and during the movie, including intervals. In case of any disruption in water supply on a particular day, alternative arrangements must be made. The court warned that failure to comply with the order would make the cinema hall owner liable to compensate for the deficiency in services to patrons.

Additionally, the court instructed relevant authorities to conduct periodic inspections to ensure the proper maintenance of drinking water facilities, toilet facilities, and other amenities at movie theaters in Tamil Nadu.