Hawking beer in front of the Bellagio fountain

This was a first for me. We've all seen the people on the street corners and overpasses selling bottled water for $1. However as my wife and I were waiting for the 8 PM fountain show at the Bellagio this weekend, there were a number of people walking around with backpacks and coolers offering a selection of beer for purchase. At least a few of them had earbuds in. After about 5 minutes passed, one of the guys discreetly dropped his backpack in a corner and disappeared, just as I noticed a police car's cherries on, not 100 feet away. We didn't get a look, but I'm assuming they may have made an arrest.

This was a first for me, having someone offer to sell beer so brashly. Obviously they don't have a liquor license. Even being on walkie-talkies, I can't imagine this going on for very long without the cops taking it down. There were a lot of people mumbling about calling them in to the police as well.

Anyways, is this new? Seems like a ridiculously easy way to get arrested for very little promise of profit.

 

Watched an episode of Vegas Strip when it was on where they busted a buy selling beer out of a suit case. They ended up making him dump the beer and I think giving him a ticket.

 

What did they sell them for outside Bellagio? Was it good beer or stuff like Bud/Miller?

 

We also saw folks selling beer in front of the fountains.

 

The enterprising folks of the street will do anything to make a buck!

 

There's better than Bud/Miller???

 

if the cops saw a backpack tucked away in a corner, all hell would probably break... think boston marathon bomb brothers....

i used to sneak ice cold beer into the northmpton fair back in the 70's buck a can which i used the money to bet the horses there...'till i got caught

 

Liquor stores are open 24 hrs a day in vegas, they're just portable liquor stores, how much were they charging?

 

Bud/Miller is the true Mcdonalds of the beer scene. No i take that back, it would be an insult to Mcdonalds since they actually serve something that is drinkable.

 

If they're allowed to sell water they should be allowed to sell Bud/Miller. There's really no difference.

 

We were waiting at a bus stop just south of there and there was a guy hollering at the top of his lungs "KUSH KUSH, CANNABIS". Couple people walk up and hand him cash, some sketchy looking guy comes walking out of the bushes behind the bus stop with their baggies. Not a care in the world, openly yelling that they're selling illegal drugs on the strip.

Was a real WTF moment. That was a trip that we didn't see a single cop or security guard anywhere on the whole length of the strip.

But wait, it had to get even more weird. Pretty soon some homeless guy comes along and sits down in the middle of the sidewalk, reached into his bag and starts pulling out about 6 wooden elephant figurines. Lines them all up perfectly and then lays down like he's going to take a nap. People are stepping over him, some woman is calling 911 telling them he's nuts and going to get hurt. Couple minutes later he sits up, picks up his elephants and mosies down the sidewalk.

Was a real "WTF is going on around here?" moment.

 

I was at standing at the fountains one night thinking the only thing that would make this better would be if I had a beer. Like magic, as if from nowhere, appeared a man offering a solution to my dilemma; two ice cold buds for $4. I gave him $6, bought him 1 for his troubles, and enjoyed the hell out of two very cold beers in vey quick order. We still stay in touch....no, only kidding, but a cold beer at just the right time was awesome.

 

What happened to the backpack?

 

A buddy and I had slightly similar happen on my first trip in my early 20's around 2000 or so, but it seemed pretty legit. On the walkway bridges outside of Excalibur on the way to NYNY there was a cart selling beer. Looked like a fully legit vendor, possibly even associated with the casino. I don't remember if the vendor had a uniform on, but I certainly don't remember thinking it was anything less than legit (it was our first day in Vegas.) While ice cold, it wasn't "good" beer. I'm sure it was MGD or Bud, but it was a nice sunny day and I remember thinking: "Ok, I already liked this place, but I'm fully sold now."

It wasn't until a few years later that I started to wonder if it was a legit vendor, but it was a fairly big cart up on the bridge walkway. I just don't know where the legal "border" is for being able to sell beer on a property. It wasn't on the overpass over the street, it was on or near one of the smaller bridges to get to (/from) the main walkway to the Excalibur.

 

That cart is still there selling beer. I think it's operated by the casino. Most of the time it is closed but last August it was open every time we walked past.

Mark

 

Can't we just drink the stuff we like without ridicule? You don't like it, fine, but leave us alone.

 

What? First of all it was fenway68 who made the claim "There's better than Bud/Miller???" so my answer was directed to him. I have no idea who you are you referring to by leave us alone? You can drink a Bud Light mixed in a margarita dressed in a nun´s habit and i still couldn't care less.

 

I came across this on my trip last October when I met up with a friend of mine who lives in Vegas and we stopped by the Fountains to watch a few shows. Between one of the shows some guy came up to us and asked us if we wanted beer. I asked him how much ($2) and if they were cold (they were). We got 4, I gave him a $10 and thanked him for the convenience.

 

And my comment was directed at the previous post that said ""was it good beer or Bud/Miller?" I was bustin' his chops about that (in a way defending the Buds/Millers of this world). I have no issue with anyone's drink choice, I was just having a bit of fun, as were the following two posters...I will assuming we are all taking the "leave us alone" comment out of context...no one meant any ridicule, bustin' chops about beer is par for the course around here....

 

Yes, it was a joke about your joke. No real offense taken