Fans wondered aloud what the Aloha Stadium Authority hopes to accomplish by approving an alcohol ban yesterday that prohibits drinking in the parking lot but not inside the stadium.

The authority itself appeared unsure how it would guarantee that fans abide by the prohibition on drinking in the parking lot, where many fans tailgate before college games.

"We have to sit down with security and probably get input from (the Honolulu Police Department) on how we can enforce something like this ...," authority chairman Kevin Chong Kee said. "I don't think it's something that's going to be easy. It's a process that the public has to learn."

The stadium authority approved a recommendation by a special task force to ban beer and alcohol consumption in the stadium's 8,000-stall parking lot before, during and after regular-season collegiate sporting events.

However, beer, wine and mixed drinks will still be sold inside the stadium.

There already is a ban on alcohol inside and outside the stadium during high school sports. There is also no tailgating allowed during high school events.

The proposal must go through various state agencies, the governor's office and a public hearing, but could be implemented by mid-December, according to state Comptroller Russ Saito. It would not go into effect during the University of Hawai'i's current regular-season football schedule. The Warriors' final home game is Dec. 3 against San Diego State.

Alcohol-related misbehavior during UH football games was the driving force behind the proposal, spearheaded by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona. A ban would put Hawai'i in line with a national trend toward dry stadiums. The Pac-10 Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference also have alcohol bans at their stadiums. Five of the nine schools in the Western Athletic Conference, of which UH is a member, also have stadium bans of alcohol.

Patrick Leonard, Aloha Stadium spokesman, said for facility officials the issue gets down to maintaining some manner of control over the amount of alcohol spectators drink.

"We can control what people consume inside the stadium in the way of alcoholic beverages," Leonard said yesterday. "We can cut it down, we can shut it off. If somebody's intoxicated we can cut them off.

"We have no control over what they do outside," Leonard said.

Ray Masuda of Kane'ohe, a season ticket-holder for 30 years, believed the proposal is too weak.

"If you continue to sell alcohol inside the stadium, they can still get drunk inside the stadium," said Masuda, a UH football player in 1959-60. "I don't know what they hope to accomplish, except they'll increase beer sales inside. They'll continue to have those who overindulge and act up. ... If alcohol is the issue, then the only way to resolve that is a complete ban."

COMPROMISE ON BAN

Aiona's original proposal announced in August was a total alcohol ban inside and outside Aloha Stadium. UH interim President David McClain wanted an alcohol ban inside the stadium, but not in the parking lot. McClain cited the tailgating tradition and enforcement as reasons for not endorsing the parking lot ban.

In its Sept. 29 meeting, the stadium authority decided on a compromise to allow the purchase of alcohol inside Aloha Stadium from vendor Centerplate, and to prohibit drinking outside the stadium. Centerplate has exclusive rights for all food and beverages in the stadium. Centerplate's contract runs through 2011.

David Loui of 'Ewa Beach, a season ticket-holder since the late '70s, disagreed with the compromise.

"I kind of laugh," Loui said. "If the idea was to make the stadium an alcohol-free zone and cut down on unruly behavior, you're not doing that by allowing alcohol sales inside the stadium.

"It's obvious to me we have a contract with the vendor that we have to honor ... but from Day One I can't understand how they will be able to police the parking lot," said Loui, who would still attend games regardless of a ban.

"There's going to be a lot more paper cups and plastic cups," he said. "People will be people. They're always going to look for ways to get around the system."

VIOLATIONS DECREASE

The stadium task force reported at its Sept. 29 meeting that the sale of alcohol in the stadium can be controlled, but the amount of alcohol consumed in the parking lots can't. Violators would be evicted from the stadium.

This season, alcohol-related infractions at Aloha Stadium have decreased, according to Herbert Naone, Aloha Stadium's chief of security.

Ejections spiked during the Oct. 1 Boise State game with 12 people booted from the stadium. Two spectators were evicted in the Sept. 3 USC game, five in the Oct. 15 New Mexico State game, and three in the Oct. 29 Fresno State game, Naone said.

Naone said it's unclear why so many spectators were ejected during the Boise State game. However, he said, the proposed alcohol ban has put spectators "on notice" and that may be one reason for the reduced numbers of alcohol-related incidents.

"I really believe people are policing themselves," said Naone, who added there were few alcohol-related incidents in the stadium parking lot. "We haven't had any large aggressive fights, which have resulted in assault cases, injuries and ambulances. We haven't had that this year."

UH Athletics Director Herman Frazier had a similar assessment.

"I think if you look at some of the security reports that have been generated thus far this year, the fans have been — for the most part — on their best behavior," Frazier said.

The stadium authority yesterday revoted on the proposal after the state Office of Information Practices said the stadium authority, in its Sept. 29 meeting, violated the state's Sunshine Law on open meetings. The violation meant that the authority had to vote again.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.