Carson Nugget gets partial suspension of liquor license

The Carson Nugget had its liquor license partially suspended Thursday for selling alcohol to minors three times within six months.

The Carson City Liquor Board, made up of city supervisors and the sheriff, fined the downtown casino $1,500 and suspended liquor sales at one of the Nugget's three bars for a week.

The board told the casino to work with the sheriff's department to determine which bar should be closed. The casino can rotate which bar is closed if approved by the sheriff's department, the board said.

The Nugget, one of the oldest and largest casinos in the city, is the second business to get three citations since the city passed a new liquor ordinance last year. The ordinance penalizes businesses whenever employees sell alcohol to minors.

The sheriff's department enforces the ordinance by sending underage decoys into businesses to see if they are allowed to buy alcohol.

The liquor board fined 7-Eleven at the corner of Highway 50 East and Airport Road $1,500 in January and suspended its liquor license for a week after three citations.

Mayor Bob Crowell said giving the Nugget the same penalty as the 7-Eleven would be "overpenalizing" the casino.

A gas station and a large casino are different because casinos rely on large sales of alcohol, he said.

Supervisor Molly Walt said taking away alcohol sales from the Nugget would be like taking away gasoline sales from 7-Eleven.

The casino is doing everything it can to avoid another citation like it got in December, January and February, said Star Anderson, casino general manager.

The casino put employees through the sheriff's department alcohol server training, conducted in-house alcohol stings and did in-house alcohol server training, she said.

Nugget Owner Alan Adams called the casino's citations an "embarrassment."

He said the penalty was fair and the Nugget was working hard to improve.

"We're doing our level best, I can assure you," he said.

One person at the meeting criticized the board's decision.

Steve McClung, owner of Alpine Lock and a 2008 candidate for mayor, told supervisors that 7-Eleven and the Nugget should be given the same punishment.

He said the board was in a difficult position, but he is "just looking for equality."

"Whether it's a large corporation or a mom-and-pop enterprise, it's the same financial impact," he said.

Dick Nollet, owner of the 7-Eleven, said in an interview that his business is still recovering from the week-long liquor license suspension.

Alcohol sales are 18 percent of his business and he's still trying to get back the customers lost, he said.

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