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Hi there from the Placement Team,
You're receiving this email because the Placed Camp Questionnaire for Hushville indicates you are planning to operate a bar, or you're planning to serve alcohol, in your camp this year. If your camp is no longer planning to serve alcohol, you can disregard this message.
Burning Man Project takes child safety very seriously. To that end, we've put together some tips to help keep minors safe. Camps in Black Rock City that operate bars have certain legal obligations, and we want to make sure you are fully informed.
Here is a summary of Nevada laws on underage drinking:
- It is a misdemeanor to knowingly serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21 years old in Nevada (Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 202.055). The law still applies if the alcohol is gifted as opposed to sold. Local law enforcement has taken the position that theme camps are public spaces and subject to enforcement of this law. NRS 202.055 applies to servers with actual or constructive knowledge that the person receiving the alcohol is under 21. This means that if someone appears to be underage, you should check their ID before serving them.
- It is a misdemeanor for minors to consume or possess alcoholic beverages in a public space (e.g., theme camps, open playa, Center Camp, etc.) (NRS 202.020).
- It is a misdemeanor for minors to pass themselves off as being of age (NRS 202.040).
- Misdemeanors carry penalties of up to 6 months in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Community service may be ordered in lieu of, or in conjunction with, jail time and/or fines (NRS 193.150; NRS 176.087).
Historically, the Pershing County Sheriff's Office has enforced these laws by requesting ID from the person who has been served, or by engaging in undercover sting operations. So what can you do to help keep minors safe, avoid being cited, and if cited, demonstrate your efforts to prevent serving minors at your bar on the playa?
- Do not serve alcohol to anyone who appears underage without checking their ID first.
- Learn to read an ID properly and determine by the date of birth if the person is at least 21.
- Post "No Minors Allowed - No Minors Served" signs to discourage minors from committing a misdemeanor by possessing, requesting, or consuming alcohol at your bar.
- Do not allow minors to loiter at your bar; ask them to leave.
- Confer with a co-server — get a second opinion — when a patron appears "youthfully" 21 or over.
- Work together — if you have refused to serve a patron because they do not appear to be of legal age, notify all your bar servers of your decision.
Burning Man Project cannot give you legal advice; please consult with your attorney if you have questions about your camp.
Bottom line: NEVER knowingly serve alcohol to a minor! It's illegal and it's not cool.
FINAL NOTE: If you find yourself in an encounter with law enforcement relating to your bar service, please be sure to note which agency you are dealing with (BLM/federal or Pershing County) and ask for a badge number and/or name. It might be helpful if a legal case ensues or if you are submitting a Burning Man Project law enforcement feedback form about your experience.
We hope this information helps ensure that you can operate your bar on the playa — and safely gift alcohol to Burners over 21 years old — without running afoul of the law or endangering underage patrons!
Level, Associate Director of City Planning (Placement), and the BRC Placement Team
placement@burningman.org
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