It's August, which means it's time for a reminder:

An athlete who smokes, drinks alcohol or uses drugs will not compete for any school in Nevada.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has circulated a four-page document stating just that.

Alcohol has a page all its own in the handbook, and in literature available at Pahrump Valley, Beatty, Tonopah, Round Mountain and Gabbs high schools in Nye County. That particular sheet has an area where parents or legal guardians and children sign, acknowledging they have read the form and understand the ramifications of violating those rules.

The message:

Nevada Law NRS 202.020--Purchase, consumption or possession of alcoholic beverage by minor.

1. Any person under 21 years of age who purchases any alcoholic beverage or any such person who consumes any alcoholic beverage in any saloon, resort or premises where spirituous, malt or fermented liquors or wines are sold is guilty of a misdemeanor.

2. Any person under 21 years of age who, for any reason, possesses any alcoholic beverage in public is guilty of a misdemeanor.

3. This section does not preclude a local government entity from enacting any ordinance an additional or broader restriction.

4. For the purpose of this section, possession 'in public' includes possession: on any street or highway; in any place open to the public, and in any private business establishment which is in effect open to the public.

5. This term does not include: possession for an established religious purpose; possession in the presence of the person's parent, spouse or legal guardian who is 21 years of age or older; possession in accordance with prescription issued by a person statutorily authorized to issue prescriptions; possession in private clubs or private establishments, or the selling, handling, serving or transporting of alcoholic beverages by a person in the course of his lawful employment by a licensed manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer of alcoholic beverages (1:2782:1947; 1943 &amp; 10594.02) <!-- 2013(unknown) --> NRS A 1967, 482; 1987.482.

For the first violation of any alcohol, tobacco and drug rules, the penalty is a six-week suspension from participation in interscholastic competition, beginning with the first scheduled competition after the suspension occurs. Four weeks of the suspension may be waived if the student successfully completes all components of the appropriate substance intervention program.

For the second violation, the student "shall be suspended from interscholastic competition for a minimum of 90 school days, which shall included a minimum of six weeks of competition. The student shall not be allowed to practice with the team, or participate in any out-of-season activities, and must competed substance abuse intervention programs.

The third violation would lead to a student being ruled "ineligible to participate for the remainder of his or her high school career."