Casino fails third alcohol compliance check

The Carson City Nugget's liquor license is in jeopardy after an employee was cited for allegedly selling alcohol to an undercover minor " the Nugget's third citation within six months.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong confirmed Tuesday that a bartender at the Nugget sold alcohol to an underage decoy who was working with the department during an alcohol compliance check Saturday night.

According to an ordinance that went into effect less than a year ago at the behest of the Sheriff's Department, an establishment that receives three citations within six months is subject to a fine and/or suspension or revocation of their liquor license.

Star Anderson, general manager of the Nugget, said Tuesday that the casino is committed to stopping minors from gambling and drinking in their establishment. In addition to servers attending training through the Sheriff's Department, the Nugget has an in-house trainer.

"In the past month, we've escorted out probably 100 people or more who did not have valid identification," she said.

As a result of Saturday's citation, Anderson said, she immediately ordered new technology that can scan the bar code on licenses from 49 states to identify if the holder is 21 or older.

She said the suspension of a liquor license would be detrimental to the Nugget, "But more than that, we also feel a huge responsibility not to serve underage people. We don't want underage people in the casino gambling nor do we want them in the bar drinking. It's illegal and we feel that we have a responsibility to stop it."

In January, Dick Nollet, owner of 7-Eleven on Highway 50 East at Airport Road, was fined $1,500 and had his license suspended for a week after receiving a third citation.

That was the first time a Carson City business lost its liquor license under the ordinance that cites not only an employee who serves to a minor but the owner of the business' liquor license.

Nollet said Tuesday he would be interested in seeing how the Liquor Board handles punishment for the Nugget.

"I don't see how the city could shut them down or take away their license," Nollet said. "Look at all the revenue the city would lose. The Nugget is a large operation.

"I don't know how they are going to approach that, actually. This kind of puts the city up against the wall."

Carson City Sheriff's Deputy Sal Acosta said of the 23 businesses visited during Saturday night's operation, the six that failed were The Nugget; AM PM Mini Market, 720 S. Carson St.; Woody's, 4385 S. Carson St.; Comstock Casino, 3680 Goni Road; Capital City Liquor, 1511 N. Carson St.; and Eagle Valley Market, 933 Woodside Dr.

The Nugget was the only business cited a third time within six months. AM PM Mini Market and Woody's citations were their second within six months.

The following businesses passed the check: Video Centro; AM PM Mini Market, 2707 Highway 50; Decades Bar on Old Hot Springs Road; AM PM Mini Market at North Carson and William streets; Gas N Save, 1360 S. Carson St.; Carson Station Casino; The Ormsby Club; Save-Mart on Highway 50 East; The Country Store on Highway 50 East; 7-Eleven, 3838 Highway 50 East; Slotworld; Shortstop Market on North Carson Street; AM PM Mini Market at North Carson Street and Medical Parkway; Eagle Gas on North Carson Street; Winnie Food and Liquor; AM PM Mini Market at South Carson Street and Clearview Drive; and El Charro's.

Furlong said his department policy is that if a business fails a check, a repeat check is required within 30 days.

The Nugget and other cited businesses likely will appear before the Liquor Board in mid-March.

- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.