The sale of alcohol is a contentious issue in Western North Carolina, but perhaps no more so than in Cherokee, where a proposal to sell it in the tribe’s casino has left members of the governing body poker-faced on whether or not they’d support it.

The Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Board asked the Tribal Council July 3 to consider holding a referendum that would allow members of the Eastern Band to vote on the sale of alcohol at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. The law would only apply to the casino and not the rest of the reservation.

The proposal will be on the tribal council’s agenda on August 7.

This isn’t the first time the TCGE has requested a referendum. Two years ago, the board introduced a similar request but yanked it before Tribal Council members could vote on it.

“We withdrew because it seemed that the timing was just not right,” says Board Chair Norma Moss.

But now, with a $650 million expansion of the casino under way and an economic downturn, it seems the time may have come to reconsider the proposal. Harrah’s isn’t losing money, but projected profits haven’t increased as much as they have in the past.

“Right now, revenues are very flat,” Moss said.

It would also make sense to have some kind of decision on the sale of alcohol made so the casino addition could include — or not include — features like bars, more storage space and anything else that comes along with having alcohol in the multi-million dollar expansion, says Moss.

Plus, the gaming customers want it, she says.

“We have a strong base of customers asking for it, and they always have,” Moss said. “They’d like to have a drink or a glass of wine, and I think that’s expected,” in a casino.

At least 95 percent of other tribal casinos serve alcohol, making a dry Harrah’s part of a tiny minority. The reservation is also surrounded by towns and counties that have one by one voted to permit the sale of alcohol.

Still, the casino has managed to become the top tourist attraction in the state even without alcohol. Moss said she and her board are aware of that, but maintain the sale of alcohol would only rake in more profits.

“Yes, we’ve been successful without it. Now how successful can we be with it?” she says.

Moss is fully aware of the controversy over alcohol among Native Americans, where alcohol abuse has wreaked havoc in many communities. She calls it “a very difficult issue on a different level for the tribe.”

But Moss and the TCGE say they’re solely looking at the sale of alcohol from a business standpoint, and hope tribal members will be able to separate a sensitive social issue from what makes sense economically.

“We’re charged with making business decisions for the tribe and the casino, and we feel very strongly this is the right thing to do or we wouldn’t be advocating to make this change,” she says.

Financially, the sale of alcohol at the casino could reap positive benefits for the Cherokee. Half the total casino profits are distributed among enrolled members in the form of a per capita check. Funds for the checks peaked in 2007 and aren’t predicted to increase again until 2011 when revenue is produced by the master plan expansion, Moss said. Last year tribal members got about $9,300 from casino profits.

“This could bridge the gap between the 2007 flatness and the 2011 revenue increases. It could provide more revenue to the tribe’s programs and individual tribal members,” she said.

Moss said casino employees have now effectively managed Harrah’s for more than 10 years, keeping it a controlled environment that has been a substantial source of revenue for the tribe. Now, they want the chance to effectively manage the sale of alcohol at the casino.

“We’ve proven ourselves in gaming, and we want to prove ourselves we can do this right,” Moss said. “Let us serve it and control it.”

Whether the casino gets a chance to prove it can successfully handle the sale of alcohol remains to be seen. Tribal Council members hold the cards in determining whether a referendum can be held, and so far, they’re staying mum on the issue.

Tribal Council Chairman Mike Parker said he won’t do an interview on the subject until August, after the issue comes before council. Council member Tommye Saunooke stated that she did not want to comment before even hearing the topic of the phone call. Other Tribal Council members didn’t respond to phone calls seeking comment.

Moss is hoping tribal members will step in and voice their opinions on a referendum to the Tribal Council.

“I’m hoping that tribal members will communicate how they feel about having a referendum, and that will help guide the council members on how they will vote,” she said. “This is a difficult issue for the tribal government, and we know that.”