Gas station could lose liquor license

A Carson City gas station could be the first city business to lose its liquor license in more than a decade.

City staff is recommending that the city liquor board revoke the license of the 7-Eleven at the corner of Highway 50 East and Airport Road. The board will consider the recommendation at the board of supervisors meeting Thursday.

The gas station was cited three times in the last six months for selling alcohol to underage decoys working with the sheriff's department.

Dick Nollet, the business owner and liquor license holder, was fined $100 when an employee sold alcohol to a minor in July and $500 when the same employee sold alcohol to a minor in November.

The liquor board ordered all employees to attend a sheriff's department alcohol server class within in three months because of the second citation.

Nollet told the liquor board in December the employee was fired and that he would do

everything he could to stop employees from selling alcohol to minors. He said he worried that, if cited again, he'd lose his liquor license and the Dallas-based 7-Eleven corporation would revoke his 7-Eleven gas station franchise.

Nollet could not be reached for comment Friday.

The gas station was cited for the third time within six months Dec. 19 when police say another employee sold alcohol to an underage decoy.

City Developmental Services Director Walt Sullivan said the fact that not all of the employees had attended alcohol server classes yet influenced his recommendation to revoke the liquor license.

The gas station could reapply for a license in six months if it is revoked. The board also could choose to suspend the license rather than revoke it.

The developmental services department monitors city liquor licenses. The liquor board is made up of the board of supervisors and the sheriff.

Treasurer Al Kramer, who used to monitor liquor licenses before developmental services took over, said he doesn't remember a liquor license being revoked for at least 14 years.

This also would be the first time a Carson City business lost its liquor license since a new city ordinance started less than a year ago that cites not only an employee who serves to a minor but the owner of the business' liquor license.

The new liquor license ordinance is working "very, very well," according to Sheriff Kenny Furlong.

It is good for the city and supported by businesses, he said.

"I think that they all want the liquor license to mean something and not be a free-willy piece of paper," he said.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.