People on the Cherokee res keep voting against legalizing alcohol, so referenda continue to recur about every three years. Odds are, a majority will eventually vote yes, and a ratio of five no majorities to an eventual yes majority equals yes.

Advocates of keeping the res dry say greedy businessmen would rather get tourism revenue than help people think twice about exerting themselves to have a swig of firewater. Proponents of legalization claim people who want to drink will do so, anyway; and legalization will cut down on drunk driving because people would be able to drink in their own homes rather than driving to and from Bryson City. The same goes for tourists. Since they are not supposed to drink and drive, if restaurants offer firewater, they shall be compelled to sleep it off in a local hotel before hitting the road again. A third plus is that revenues from alcohol sales, and not, say, lawnmower sales, can be used to educate people about drinking responsibly. If people drink a whole lot, there will be enough proceeds to build a rehab center.