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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
State plans no ban
on alcohol in stadium lotQuestion: Last fall, you indicated that Aloha Stadium authorities cannot control the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the stadium parking lot. What are the laws regarding drinking alcoholic beverages in the parking lot of a government facility, such as the stadium? They should be completely banned at public events including all stadium venues.
Answer: It doesn't appear likely that alcoholic beverages will be banned during stadium tailgate parties anytime soon.
In response to an "auwe" about boisterous drinkers in the Sept. 16, 2003, column you cite, it was noted that while beer sales are restricted within the stadium, officials had no real control over alcoholic beverages brought to and consumed at tailgate parties.
There is no state law or administrative rule that prohibits drinking in the stadium parking lot, according to John Dellera, a deputy state attorney general who serves as counsel to the Stadium Authority.
On the contrary, he said, administrative rules recognize that tailgate parties have long taken place in the parking lot, during which tailgaters are known to consume both food and alcoholic beverages.
That indicates "a tacit recognition" that people are drinking in the parking lot, he said.
"Because people have always had alcoholic beverages at tailgate parties, the rules can be interpreted as allowing it," Dellera said.
The Stadium Authority could adopt an administrative rule, under the Administrative Procedures Act, to regulate alcoholic consumption in the parking lot, "but they haven't done that," he said.
In fact, the issue was discussed briefly at an authority meeting a couple of months ago, Dellera said, "and I don't believe any decision was made to draft any rules" to limit or ban consumption of alcoholic beverages at stadium tailgating parties.
If the authority wanted to do so, the process would involving proposing an administrative rule, which would require the governor's approval and public hearings.
Sweetie on TV
The saga of Sweetie has found its way onto TV.Sweetie is the "wild" dog who roamed the grounds of Tripler Army Medical Center for years before being rescued through the efforts of several people (Kokua Line, Dec. 14, 2000, and Sept. 21, 2003).
After we chronicled her rescue, Kokua Line readers contributed about $4,000 to help pay for her medical expenses, including hip surgery.
Sweetie's story can be seen on a "Humans and Pets" segment of "Outside Hawaii," hosted by Jenn Boneza, that will air at 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays on OC16 for the next two weeks, according to executive producer Cal Hirai.
There will be at least a dozen other non-primetime airings during the period as well, he said.
Amazingly, Hirai has video of Sweetie before she was rescued. He, too, had been touched by the then-nameless, abandoned dog while visiting a friend's father at Tripler just months before her rescue. He depicts her transformation today to contented and beloved member of Clayton and Betty Kamida's family.
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