Nevada Revised Statute § 202.030 prohibits people under 21 years old from being on the premises of a bar. Underage loitering at a saloon is a misdemeanor carrying a $500 fine.
The text of the statute reads:
NRS 202.030 – Minor loitering in place where alcoholic beverages sold.
Any person under 21 years of age who shall loiter or remain on the premises of any saloon where spirituous, malt or fermented liquors or wines are sold shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500. Nothing in this section shall apply to:
1. Establishments wherein spirituous, malt or fermented liquors or wines are served only in conjunction with regular meals and where dining tables or booths are provided separate from the bar; or
2. Any grocery store or drugstore where spirituous, malt or fermented liquors or wines are not sold by the drink for consumption on the premises.
Legal Analysis
Nevada Revised Statute 202.030 makes it a crime for people under 21 years old to “loiter or remain” on the premises of a bar, saloon, tavern, pub, or similar establishment that sells alcohol. However, NRS 202.030 does not apply to restaurants or grocery stores.
Example: Twenty-year-old Tommy is at a Las Vegas Macaroni Grill waiting for his friends. He sits at the bar in the meantime. Since Macaroni Grill is a restaurant, Tommy is not violating 202.030 even though he is sitting at the bar.
Underage loitering at a bar is a misdemeanor in Nevada. The fine is $500, even if the person never has or drinks any alcohol. The penalties include no jail time.1
If an underage person loitering at a bar obtains alcohol, they would then face another misdemeanor charge of being a minor in possession of alcohol (NRS 202.020), which carries up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.
Meanwhile, merchants who serve alcohol to underage people face misdemeanor charges of furnishing alcohol to a minor (NRS 202.055), which also carries up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.
Underage loitering at a bar in violation of NRS 202.030 is a crime even if there is no drinking.
Legal References
- Nevada Revised Statute 202.030 – Minor loitering in place where alcoholic beverages sold. AGO 02-45 (11-13-2002).