Danville is getting an additional retail package liquor license, thanks to an increase in the city’s population.

The state has allowed six package liquor licenses since Danville first went wet in 2010; it will now be allowed a seventh, according to local Alcoholic Beverage Control Officer Bridgette Lester.

Lester said cities are allowed one package liquor license for every 2,300 population.

The newest Census data obtained through the University of Louisville puts Danville’s population at 16,802, said Christine Trout, state ABC commissioner on Tuesday. That’s more than the 16,100 needed for seven licenses.

According to U.S. Census data, Danville’s population actually already exceeded that 16,100 mark in 2010. It wasn’t immediately clear Wednesday why the city was only getting a seventh package license now. Lester said the city doesn’t have anything to do with determining the number of licenses; that’s left up to the state.

Lester said cities can have one liquor drink license (for serving drinks directly to customers) for every 2,500 population. The larger population requirement means Danville’s number of drink licenses has remained unchanged at six. The city would gain a seventh drink license if it ever reached a population of 17,500.

The state advertised the available license on March 13; applications can be filed for 30 days after the advertisement appeared.

Lester said Tuesday she has not yet received any applications. Applicants must file with the city and the state; the city then verifies to the state which applicants meet all the local requirements. If no one files an application during the initial 30-day window, the license will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, she said.

If there are multiple applications filed during the 30-day window, it will be up to state Distilled Spirits Administrator Trina Summers to determine which applicant gets the license, Trout said.

Summers would request economic impact statements from the qualified applicants, and those statements would play a big part in the decision, Trout said.

There are other factors that could go into the decision as well, laid out in state law.

“A license may be denied by a state administrator for any reason that the administrator, in the exercise of the administrator’s sound discretion, deems sufficient,” the relevant law reads.

The factors that could be considered include “potential for future growth;” the “number of licensed outlets in the area;” the “financial potential of the area;” the “type of transportation available;” the “type of area involved;” and “public sentiment in the area,” according to state law.

Trout said the “public sentiment” factor is why it’s important to advertise the application process in the local paper.

SO YOU KNOW

According to a March 8 report from Danville Codes Enforcement, the city’s retail package liquor licenses are currently held by:

• Kroger Liquor Store, 198 Skywatch Dr.;

• Royal Liquor, 1000 E. Lexington Ave.;

• Jane Barleycorn’s Market and Bar, 130 S. Fourth St.;

• Liquor Barn, 2900 S. Danville Bypass; and

• Liquor Mart of Danville, 158 Jane Trail.

Walmart is currently in the process of constructing an addition it plans to make into a liquor store. 

This story originally incorrectly listed an additional store as possessing one of Danville’s package liquor licenses. It has been corrected to reflect the correct list.