Summary
Legal Drinking Age in the U.S.
While the legal drinking age of 21 for the United States is a federally-mandated regulation, there are many laws concerning liquor and alcoholic beverages that differ in Nevada from elsewhere in America. New arrivals in Reno or Las Vegas might find that Nevada liquor laws are much more relaxed than what they’re used to seeing back home.
Most notably, there are no legally mandated closing hours or days for establishments serving alcoholic drinks, and there are no days or hours during which a store may not sell liquor. Consequently, alcohol can be purchased 24 hours a day, seven days a week from any licensed Nevada business.
Furthermore, state laws deem public intoxication legal and prohibit county or city ordinances from classifying it as a public offense. However, exceptions exist when operating a motor vehicle or if intoxication is linked to any criminal activity.
Important Alcohol Laws and Regulations
The United States federal government has numerous laws regulating the sale, purchase, ownership, and consumption of liquor and alcoholic beverages but leaves many regulations concerning public use to individual states. Therefore, Nevada has established the following rules governing liquor:
- It is illegal for parents or other adults to allow underage drinking or provide minors (under the age of 21) with alcohol.
- Public intoxication is legal, except where involving civil or criminal offenses like a DUI. Some cities, however, prohibit giving alcohol to someone already intoxicated.
- Minors are not permitted in business areas where liquor is sold, served, or given away—this includes hotels, casinos, and bars—unless they are employees following mandated employment regulations.
- Minors cannot enter stand-alone saloons, bars, or taverns that primarily serve alcohol, and IDs are required for entry regardless of age.
- It is a misdemeanor to possess or use a fake ID claiming the bearer is 21 or older. Moreover, providing a fake ID to another person is classified as a gross misdemeanor, regardless of age.
- The legal Driving Under the Influence (DUI) limit for all Nevada drivers is .08 blood alcohol concentration or above. If a test shows a person under 21 stopped for suspicion of DUI has a blood alcohol concentration of more than .02 but less than .08, their license or driving permit will be suspended for 90 days.
If you’re planning to visit Nevada, you should familiarize yourself with these rules. However, if you plan to travel to other states during your trip, you’ll also want to understand the laws governing alcohol in Nevada’s neighboring states, keeping in mind that transporting liquor across state lines may be illegal.
Neighboring States Alcohol Regulations
Many of Nevada’s larger cities are located near the border of other states, with some city limits even reaching across two states simultaneously. Therefore, it’s crucial to know more than one state’s law regarding liquor before traveling.
For example, Lake Tahoe—one of the biggest tourist destinations in the state outside of Reno and Vegas—is positioned on the border of California. In California, alcohol laws differ significantly. The legal age to drink remains 21, but alcohol sales at bars and stores are prohibited between 2 and 6 a.m., meaning patrons will receive the “last call” notice from bartenders—something that does not occur in Nevada.
On the other hand, Nevada’s eastern neighbor, Utah, enforces much stricter laws. Until 2009, obtaining a membership to a private club was necessary even to purchase liquor or wine in the state. Additionally, public intoxication is illegal in Utah, and liquor taxes are considerably higher in this state.
