NEW YORK CITY -- The New York State Liquor Authority has approved a liquor license for a newly-formed company to serve alcohol throughout most of the Oneida Indian Nation's Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona.
The SLA's board voted unanimously to issue a license to CD Food & Beverage, a non-Indian spinoff of The Beeches Restaurant in nearby Rome.
The authority had repeatedly denied a liquor license for the resort itself, but had issued thousands of temporary permits to The Beeches to serve alcohol at its nightclub, lounges and upscale restaurants.
Oneida Nation director of media relations Mark Emery released a statement in reaction to the Authority's ruling, saying: "We are grateful that the State Liquor Authority (SLA) took the time to sift through the politics and rhetoric to focus on the merits of the application. The fact that the SLA unanimously approved the application should put to rest any concerns about alcohol at Turning Stone. We are pleased not only for our employees and the many businesses that we purchase goods and services from, but for our entire community which will benefit by making Turning Stone and our region even more attractive to our guests and tourists."
The license granted Thursday will eliminate the need for daily liquor permits and casino guests will no longer have to be members of one of the casino's clubs to buy alcohol. The agreement also allows for collection of bed tax and sales tax on food and drink sold at the resort.
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Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
