Minors would be banned from bars and barrooms in Natrona County under a measure proposed by county officials in response to incidents of underage drinking.

Natrona County has no law addressing the presence of 18- to 20-year-olds in county bars. Some bars allow underage people but won't serve them alcohol.

The law would not affect people under 21 who work in places that serve liquor, although people younger than 18 would be barred from being in rooms where alcohol is dispensed. People under 21 can be in a place where liquor is served, but not dispensed, as long as they are with a parent or legal guardian and it's no later than 10 p.m.

"We don't want to ace people out of employment, but we do want to control the potential for underage drinking in bars," said Natrona County Commission Chairwoman Kathleen Dixon. "Obviously, this has been a concern in recent months in the county."

Sheriff Mark Benton said Monday, "One of the bigger issues is the Tumble Inn in Powder River."

The topless bar some 35 miles west of Casper has been under the sheriff's scrutiny. Minors in recent months have been cited for being in possession of alcohol - including one this weekend whose blood-alcohol content was registered at .07, Benton said.

"That's a 70-mile round trip," he said. "We're concerned about the amount of people on the highway who may have been consuming. … We think it's necessary to change the rules for general public safety."

Tumble Inn owner Joe Trujillo, however, has said in recent weeks that he does not serve alcohol to underage people and the sheriff's office is harassing his customers. Trujillo could not be reached at the bar Monday.

The county's proposal mirrors the city's ordinance stating that no one under 21 may be in a place where alcohol is being dispensed or poured, except if that person is an employee of the establishment or they're on official business.

A public hearing is scheduled at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 18, at the County Annex building, 120 West 1st St. Comments may be directed to the Natrona County commissioners or Sheriff Mark Benton at 200 North Center Street, Suite 115, Casper, Wyo., 82601.

Reporter Jenni Dillon can be reached at (307) 266-0619 or at Jenni.Dillon@casperstartribune.net