Wined out? It will be easier to find mixed drinks at local restaurants in coming years.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation last week authorizing 15 more general liquor licenses — an almost 25 percent increase — in Napa County.

Liquor licenses have been in such short supply that some restaurateurs have paid as much as $300,000 to buy one from proprietors who own licenses but are closing their bars or restaurants.

The state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control will sell the new licenses for $12,000.

Scores of restaurants now make do with wine and beer permits because liquor licenses are so expensive and in such limited supply.

Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, authored the bill to raise the cap on Napa County’s general liquor licenses. There are currently 62 licenses.

The liquor license cap, which is based on population, made no sense in Napa County where tourism boosts the demand for liquor far higher than it would otherwise be, Evans said.

“This bill provides some relief to local businesses struggling to meet the growing demands of our tourism industry,” Evans said in a press release.

“This bill will provide an economic stimulus and help keep visitors keep coming back to Napa.”

Craig Smith, executive director of the Napa Downtown Association, expects close to 100 applicants to seek one of the new licenses. Existing and future restaurant operators will want one, he said.

“They’re going to get what is currently a $300,000 asset for $12,000,” he said.

ABC will issue five licenses per year starting in 2009, when the law takes effect. If there are more than five applicants, the state will hold a countywide drawing.

Applicants will have to demonstrate that they are credible restaurant operators and undergo a background check. Winning applicants cannot sell their licenses for two years.

This is only the second time that California has made an exception to its population formula for issuing general liquor licenses. In 2007, the Legislature awarded 10 additional licenses to Mono County, where the resident population is low but the number of visitors to Mammoth Lakes is high.

Napa County has a population of 137,000, according to the latest state estimates. The county draws some 4.7 million visitors per year, Evans said.

Napa’s relatively small population is a function of county and city policies to grow slowly and protect agriculture. “By tying alcohol licenses to growth, state law penalizes Napa for protecting its agricultural heritage,” Evans said.

Evans’ bill, Assembly Bill 2266, passed both the Assembly and Senate on unanimous votes.

The law takes effect in January. ABC may not open applications until later in 2009, Smith said.