A question for you old gambling hands.

[shadroch]

What was the legal age to gamble in Nevada back when the drinking age was 18 in most states?
I remember California had a 21 YO drinking age, but assume Nevad's was 18.
So could you gamble at 18 back then?

 

[Pro21]

I do not remember it ever being 18 to gamble in NV. It has always been 21 as far as I know.

 

[shadroch]

Were you around when the drinking age was 18?

 

[21forme]

Were you around when the drinking age was 18?

I went to college in NY state where it was 18 at that time. My freshman roommate was from PA where it was 21. He loved that.

 

[Canceler]

Probably doesn't help you much, but...

Were you around when the drinking age was 18?

I have no idea when the drinking age was 18, but I was stationed at Nellis AFB in 1971, and the gambling age was 21 then.

 

[shadroch]

Reagan mandated a federal drinking age of 21 during his first administration, perhaps around 1983. Before that, it was up to the states and many mandated 18. I can't find out what Nevadas was, yet. Could you drink in Nevada in 1971?

 

[Canceler]

More unhelpful information, I’m afraid…

Could you drink in Nevada in 1971?

I was 19 at the time, and that whole situation was a little murky.

I know for a fact that enforcement of the gambling age was lax at the time. Or maybe lax for those of us in the service, I don’t know. I remember getting free drinks while sitting at a slot machine. Was that because I was of age, or because they assumed I was of age since I was on the gambling floor? I don’t know.

No matter what base I was on, I could always get a drink at the airman’s club. Was that because I was of age, or because the normal rules didn’t apply there, or were ignored? I don’t know.

The drinking age, or drinking in general, was never that big a deal to me.

 

[bj bob]

What was the legal age to gamble in Nevada back when the drinking age was 18 in most states?
I remember California had a 21 YO drinking age, but assume Nevada's was 18.
So could you gamble at 18 back then?

I was in college in SF in the early '70's and playing in Reno/Tahoe once or twice a month. Nevada definitely stayed at 21 for both drinking and gambling the whole time. I got carded and nearly busted at Barney's in '71...The good old days! :laugh::laugh:

 

[shadroch]

There seems pretty conclusive. Thanks.

 

[21gunsalute]

Reagan mandated a federal drinking age of 21 during his first administration, perhaps around 1983. Before that, it was up to the states and many mandated 18. I can't find out what Nevadas was, yet. Could you drink in Nevada in 1971?

Uh, just for sake of clarity and historical perspective it was not a mandate by Reagan. It was an act of Congress known as The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. It was passed by both houses of congress overwhelmingly. Reagan did sign the bill into law, but he was originally opposed to the idea and had threatened to veto it, not that it would have mattered since it apparently passed by a large enough margin to override a veto. Mandates seem to be Obama's calling card.

 

[shadroch]

I should have said it was mandated during the Reagan administration.

 

[21gunsalute]

I should have said it was mandated during the Reagan administration.

That would have been just as misleading.

 

[shadroch]

No, it would not. The Federal Government mandated that in order to recieve Federal highway money, states had to raise the drinking age to 21. This happened during Reagans administration.
You want to try and put some sort of spin on that, go right ahead.

 

[daddybo]

No, it would not. The Federal Government mandated that in order to recieve Federal highway money, states had to raise the drinking age to 21. This happened during Reagans administration.
You want to try and put some sort of spin on that, go right ahead.

It's normal gov't extortion to extend their reach beyond the constitution. All admins do it.

 

[Blue Efficacy]

It's normal gov't extortion to extend their reach beyond the constitution. All admins do it.

It's not unconstitutional for the feds to make highway funding contingent on certain conditions.

Where I am from, 18 year olds can gamble. Trust me, these kids don't need to be drinking in public on top of that...