Sheri Richard and friends kept their alcoholic drinks chilled in a blue cooler during a karaoke session recently in Makiki.

“;That's half the fun,”; Richard, of Kahaluu, said after coming out of Krazy Karaoke on Young Street.

But the Honolulu Liquor Commission wants to regulate businesses that allow customers to “;bring your own beer,”; hoping to cut off BYOB drinkers at 10 p.m.

Senate Bill 2545, which passed out of the Transportation Committee last week with some unexpected amendments, would allow county liquor commissions to require permits before businesses can allow customers to carry in alcohol.

Sen. Carol Fukunaga, who introduced the bill, said a law is needed to regulate the BYOB establishments in her district, which have grown during the recession.

Fukunaga (D, Makiki-McCully) said the permit would give the commission the authority to cite a business for violations and take away its BYOB permit if the business gets multiple citations.

She said calls to police about noise and rowdy customers spilling from unlicensed karaoke businesses haven't worked, citing 171 complaints over three years about the entertainment businesses at Makaloa Plaza near Keeaumoku Street.

Commission Chairman Dennis Enomoto said the commission wanted the bill to help fight illegal liquor sales. He said there are reports of some businesses selling alcohol and pretending customers brought it in themselves.

“;Guys without a license are actually selling liquor and calling it BYOB,”; Enomoto said. “;That's a problem we're having a hard time enforcing because they're claiming BYOB. ... I suspect it's a growing trend.”;

State Sen. J. Kalani English, chairman of the Transportation Committee, passed the bill out of his committee but said he dislikes it because it adds too much regulation.

“;There's a lot of problems with the bill,”; said English (D, Hana-Kahoolawe) after moving it forward because other senators expressed a need for it.

He said he does not know how much a permit would cost.

English's committee also made significant changes to the bill. It added a provision allowing customers who bring their wine to cork the bottle and take home any remaining liquor.

He also took out the time limit, meaning customers can drink their liquor in a business any time. Under current law, customers can only drink their booze in a business between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m.

Enomoto said the commission does not support the bill's current version.

“;As amended ... it doesn't meet what we're trying to achieve,”; he said. He said limiting BYOB drinking to between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. would curb illegal sales and reduce late night noise without interfering with most restaurant businesses.

Malcolm and Lynn Shiroma, owners of Krazy Karaoke on Young Street and at Pearl Kai, worry how the bill will affect their plans for opening two more karaoke businesses on Oahu.

“;It's a business killer,”; said Malcolm Shiroma.

Lynn Shiroma said she already cards young people, and if they are underage, she does not allow liquor into the room.

“;We're pretty strict already,”; she said. “;In today's economy it's hard enough to make a small business like ours to be able to maintain (itself).”;