Go with me on this one.

Pretend that today, the movie-theater owners of America announce a dramatic policy change.

Pretend that from this moment forward, in parking lots outside cineplexes, people will be encouraged to arrive early, tailgate and consume alcoholic beverages.

Pretend that beer and wine will be served at concession stands throughout every film, two drinks to a customer, even if the customer has already had four or five.

Pretend this is true. All of it.

Do you think that some drunk filmgoers might start yelling obscene and obnoxious remarks at the screen, provoking arguments with other drunk filmgoers?

Do you think that by the last reel of “King Kong,” some drunk rooting for the big ape might pick a fight with a drunk who’s rooting for the airplanes? Yes. I am thinking the answer to both questions is yes.

But of course, that’s only a pretend scenario. We would never allow that to happen at movie theaters in America.

Why, then, do we allow it to happen at football games?

Monday night, the New York Jets didn’t allow it. You probably heard.

Alcohol sales were banned at Giants Stadium for the Jets’ game against New England. Jets officials said the precaution was taken for “safety” reasons. Last month, at another Jets night game, nine people were arrested after various incidents. Two people were stabbed outside a men’s room. A state trooper broke his leg while trying to eject a bottle-tossing fan.

In the wake of this ugliness, someone finally connected the dots: Beer. Evening kickoff. Beer. Lots of pregame tailgating. Beer. A losing home team, with ticked-off fans. Beer. Gee, maybe it’s not a good combination.

And so, for one of the rare times in NFL history, no alcohol was sold Monday. Amazingly, no one seemed to mind that much. A fan named John Speranza pointed out to the New York Daily News: “If you’re not drinking, you remember more.” And the crowd was indeed more civil.

It made me wonder: Why isn’t there a booze ban at every NFL game?

Well, we all know why, don’t we? It’s because too much money is made from beer sales. The big breweries have significant advertising “relationships” with the league. Plus, it’s part of the pro football culture – American sports culture, really – for fans to enjoy a few brews before and during the action.

Heck, I won’t lie. When I attend games and I’m not working, I’ll drain a cold one or two. But traveling around the country this season, I have noticed that excessive drinking in certain NFL locales (hello, Philly and New England) has reached a new level. A generation of fans seems to now believe it’s almost expected.

The topic is relevant here this week because Saturday night happens to be New Year’s Eve. And the Raiders happen to have a home game with a 5 p.m. kickoff.

Raiders executive Amy Trask said Tuesday that the team wasn’t blind to the situation. The decision was made not to open the tailgating lots early. But a ban on alcohol sales was not considered.

So. Good luck to the Raiders stadium personnel this weekend. And here’s hoping other NFL teams follow the same route to keeping the booze beast under control.

Because if they don’t, you know what will happen?

A lot more people will be skipping football games and going to the movies.