Hey ppl... think b4 u all continue screwing those cinema operators, I hope that you think in their shoes - the distributor draws a large percentage of the ticket sales from the cinema operators (I think it's something like 80% of the proceeds... tat's how they can spend hundreds of millions on a production). As such, for the operator to survive, they do have to seek other revenues such as selling food and drinks. Frankly, when u paid for your movie tix, u have already agreed to abide by that cinema's regulations as it's the cinema paying the rent of the place, not u. Thus, in their own territory, they can set the rules on ur conduct in watching the movies so as will benefit them.
In the cinemas, it is usually not tat strict as to search ur personal belongings. The ushers cant request to search ur bag unless he/she has valid reasons to do so - he/she saw that you have brought in outside food and tried to put them in ur bags. Tat is breaking cinema rules and logically, shldnt the cinema operator have every right to stop u? Den furthermore, you can choose NOT to eat while watching the movie - no one is forcing you to buy the food and drinks there but ur own self.