I know what you are saying, LDT. I was just thinking in similar terms today: there is (was) something almost perfect about a nice beer and a hot dog at the ballpark, and I will never have that again. As you say, kind of sad... but that's just the way it has to be.
Remember that virtually all of the people in that theater lobby (or at the ballgame), excluding a few percent who might be problem drinkers, could simply put down their drink half-finished and walk away and not really think twice about it. I could never do that.