SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, the Assembly Committee on Government Organization passed a bill authored by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to create 15 new full service liquor licenses for Napa County restaurants.

Craig Smith, Executive Director of the Napa Downtown Association, joined Evans to testify in support of Assembly Bill (AB) 2266, which passed 11-0.  It awaits further review in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“Napa Valley is a global food and wine destination,” said Evans.  “But state licensure laws limit the ability of local restaurants to provide visitors with the choices they expect at fine dining establishments.  This bill provides local businesses much needed relief to help keep visitors coming back to Napa.  That’s the bottom line driving our local economy.”

AB 2266 authorizes the Department of Alcoholic Beverages Control (ABC) to issue 15 new original on-sale general licenses for bona fide public eating places in the County of Napa.  Amendments taken in Committee stipulate that these licenses will be issued over three years, with five being issued each year between 2009 and 2011.

Under current law, the number of new on-sale liquor licenses issued in a given county is tied to population.  Licenses are allocated by county for every 2,000 residents.  The number of visitors to Napa County has steadily increased to some 4.7 million per year.  But the overall population has not.  Therefore, the number of licenses has remained relatively stagnant.  This scarcity has pushed the price of full service liquor licenses to a premium, as much as $300,000 each.

AB 2266 is supported by the Napa Downtown Association, the Napa Chamber of Commerce, the City of Napa, and a number of local restaurants and other businesses.

Further information about AB 2266 is available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.