UH football and
beer don’t mix,
Aiona says

He pushes for a ban
at UH home games
starting this season

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona and University of Hawaii interim President David McClain were to meet this afternoon to discuss Aiona's proposal for a total ban on alcohol at UH football games.

Aiona wants the ban -- which would also eliminate drinking in the parking lot -- to begin with the Warriors' next game, the Sept. 3 season opener against USC at Aloha Stadium.

"UH seems to have committed to a dry campus (five of seven Manoa campus dorms will be alcohol-free this year). This seems like a logical follow-through," Aiona said. "On a national level, a lot of colleges are doing this."

Aiona, a UH football season-ticket holder, said violence due to alcohol consumption has increased in recent years at Warriors games.

"That's part of it. Fights have been breaking out in the stands and the parking lots. It's a public-safety issue. I've seen it escalate. There's an impact on the university and the state itself," he said. "The major factor is underage drinking. This is part of our drug and alcohol (prevention) plan. The message we want to express is, college athletics should have no relationship with beer."

McClain said he agrees with Aiona philosophically, but a complete ban might not be possible right away.

"I've personally experienced the problem of people in the third and fourth quarter having to deal with beer being spilled on them and worse," McClain said. "We recognize there's a problem, but I'm not sure what we can do unilaterally."

McClain said he might be prepared to meet Aiona's request to stop accepting all alcohol advertising on campus and at the stadium (UH has temporary signage during games; permanent ads belong to the stadium authority).

"The ads generate around $200,000 per year. I've found some donors who might replace it (for a year)," McClain said, "but no one to endow. It would take a $4 million endowment. We have nothing yet on a sustained basis."

UH is in ongoing negotiations with the Aloha Stadium Authority to get its rent lowered. McClain said rent relief could help make up for the loss in income from ads.

UH pays the greater of 7.5 percent of ticket receipts or $10,000 per game to rent the stadium. (This is in addition to expenses.)

"A reduction in our contribution to the stadium, that might provide a sustained amount (to replace ad revenue)," McClain said. "The challenge is, we're not in control of the stadium."

UH does not receive direct income from Aloha Stadium beer sales.

"Normally, the licensee decides if there will be alcoholic beverages for sale," stadium spokesman Patrick Leonard said.

McClain said he does not foresee banning beer sales at basketball and volleyball games at the on-campus Stan Sheriff Center or baseball games at Rainbow Stadium, also on campus.

"I don't think we have a major problem there," he said.

Aiona and McClain both said no alcohol at college football games is a nationwide trend. Coincidentally, USC -- the next UH opponent at Aloha Stadium -- recently became the final Pacific-10 school to ban alcohol at its home games.

McClain said he will continue to discuss the issue with new interim Manoa Chancellor Denise Konan and athletic director Herman Frazier.

Aiona said beer sales at the annual Pro Bowl are a different matter.

"I have no concerns with the Pro Bowl. Professional sports is different," he said.

Aiona also said he planned to go into today's meeting with an open mind.

"I'm going to listen to the concerns of the university," he said. "I'm not a prohibitionist. There might be financial concerns I don't know about."

Aiona said he also plans to meet with the Aloha Stadium Authority. Its next regularly scheduled meeting is Aug. 25.