Great Falls Police Department Conducts Alcohol Compliance Operation

On January 29th, the Great Falls Police Department conducted a compliance check of 58 businesses that sell alcohol within the city limits of Great Falls. The purpose of the operation is to ensure liquor license holders are working to prevent the sale of alcohol to purchasers under the age of 21.

The establishments are chosen randomly by the State of Montana, with checks supported by STOP (Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking) Act funds provided by Alliance for Youth Substance Abuse Prevention stakeholders. Since the inception of mandatory alcohol server training in the State of Montana, therehas been a dramatic decrease in illegal sales of alcohol to persons under 21 years of age.

During the compliance operation, volunteers were 19 or 20 years old and possessed a valid legal identification card or driver’s license. The volunteers showed their identification cards to every server or seller who asked to see them.

Of the 58 establishments, all were open, and an attempt to purchase alcohol was made. Fifty of the businesses passed, while eight failed, resulting in a success rate of 82%. This success rate is consistent with that of the previous compliance check conducted on January 22, 2025, where 82% also passed.

The businesses and employees who successfully passed deserve well-earned congratulations for their diligence in preventing alcohol sales to underage purchasers. The employees who sold alcohol to the underage buyers were issued a citation for violating MCA 16-3-301 (Unlawful Sales/Transfer to a Person under 21 years of age), a misdemeanor. See the list of businesses below.

Establishments in Violation
Pizza Hut #201 – 1518 10th Ave S

Stadium Sports Bar – 1121 5th St S

La Cocina – 1709 Alder Dr

Jaker’s Steak – 1500 10th Ave S

Joe’s Place – 1220 9th St S

Tasty Hot Pot – 215 3rd St NW

Hideout Lounge & Casino – 2401 12th Ave S

Kellergeist – 111 Central Ave

Establishments in Compliance
5 Cent Casino – 211 NW Bypass

Emerald City Casino – 528 Smelter Ave NE

On Your Way Conoco – 3601 10th Ave S

Albertson’s – 2250 10th Ave S

Fat Tuesdays’ – 817 10th Ave S

Players Casino – 4305 10th Ave S

Benchmark State Liquor Store – 1100 20th St S

Flamingo – 3028 10th Ave S

Poppy’s Mini Mart – 606 15th St S

Big John’s Casino – 2323 11th Ave S

Golds West Tavern – 1819 3rd St NW

Snits – 619 Central Ave

Big Sky Supermarket – 701 1st Ave M

Holiday – 1428 3rd St NW

The Do Bar – 1800 3rd St NW

Bobo’s Casino – 5603 9th Ave S

Holiday West Casino – 1520 3rd St NW

The Palace Casino – 626 10th Ave S

Buffalo Nickel Casino – 41 Division Rd

Johnny’s Bar and Casino – 1400 10th Ave N

Town Pump – 1400 10th Ave S

Buffalo Wild Wings – 117 NW Bypass

Keith’s Country Store – 1621 10th Ave S

Town Pump – 1411 10th Ave S

Circle K – 1601 Fox Farm Rd

Kernaghan’s Pik&Pump – 1507 8th Ave N

Town Pump – 3715 31st St SW

Classic 50’s Casino – 1802 14th St SW

Kobe Seafood and Steakhouse – 115 3rd St NW

Town Pump – 401 10th Ave S

Conoco Noon’s – 5600 3rd Ave S

Little’s Lanes – 517 1st Ave N

Town Pump – 501 NW Bypass

Crown Lounge – 1820 10th Ave S

Lucky Charm Casino – 4810 2nd Ave N

Town Pump – 700 10th Ave S

Crystal Casino – 1200 10th Ave S

Lucky Lil’s Casino – 3715 31st St SW

Vintage Sellers – 105 Smelter Ave NW

Crystal Casino – 906 14th St S

Mighty Mo Brew Pub – 412 Central Ave

Walgreens – 2301 10th Ave S

CVS Pharmacy – 201 10th Ave S

MT 41 Casino – 1020 17th St S

Walmart Supercenter – 5230 10th Ave S

Double Down Casino – 605 2nd Ave NW

Noon’s Sinclair – 1300 12th Ave S

Whiskey Falls – 721 6th St SW

Emerald City Casino – 2517 10th Ave S

Noon’s Sinclair Dinomart – 3200 10th Ave S

By Karen Anderson: February 1, 2026 – Great Falls, Mt