The New York State Liquor Authority for the first time approved the sale of liquor at the Oneida Nation casino.

The board approved a license application from CD Food & Beverage, a newly formed company that will lease space at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino from the tribe. The arrangement resolved long-standing taxation and sovereignty issues that prevented the tribe from obtaining its own license.

“We’ve resolved what’s been a very difficult issue for the state, for the Oneidas, for the business community," State Liquor Authority Chairman Dennis Rosen told The Utica Observer-Dispatch. “It was a good solution so the Oneidas could feel on the one hand, they’ve retained their sovereignty as a Nation.”

CD Food & Beverage will be run by the owners of the Beeches Restaurant, a company that has worked with the tribe in the past. The company will pay taxes on the sale of alcohol and food products and a room occupancy tax.

Get the Story:
State approves alcohol at Turning Stone (The Utica Observer-Dispatch 5/7)
Regulators OK liquor sales at Turning Stone Casino (AP 5/7)
State approves Turning Stone liquor license (The Oneida Dispatch 5/6)
Local businesses split on Turning Stone's new liquor license (WKTV 5/6)
State approves expanded liquor service at Turning Stone (The Syracuse Post-Standard 5/6)

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New York board delays decision on Oneida casino alcohol (4/29)
New York liquor board considers alcohol at Oneida casino (4/28)
Permit could lead to liquor sales at Oneida Nation casino (4/14)