If you are looking for a cocktail, American Canyon is not the place to be.

The city has no restaurants with full liquor licenses, and it missed out when the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued five new licenses in Napa County earlier this month.

But American Canyon leaders are not giving up on efforts to have at least one restaurant in town gain a full liquor license.

Debate began in the city after five new liquor licenses were awarded by lottery this summer to existing and future restaurants in Napa County, none of which are in American Canyon. The city sent a letter to state Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa — who sponsored the legislation to bring 15 new licenses to Napa County over a three-year period. The American Canyon Chamber of Commerce has invited all restaurants to meet with state officials and learn how to apply for a full-liquor license in the future.

A representative for Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa, the only American Canyon business that tried but failed to get a new full-liquor license in the raffle this summer, will attend Tuesday’s meeting. A full liquor license would spur business to the hotel, restaurant and the city, said Chris Middleton, general manager at the Gaia Napa Valley. 

“It would be very much an asset,” she said this week.

While Napa County has 70 existing full-liquor licenses, none are in American Canyon. The closest restaurant with a full liquor license is La Strada, just north of city limits.

The Gaia was among 29 restaurants and resorts that applied for one of five new licenses this summer. The Gaia came in 25th place in the raffle.

The five winning businesses will pay $12,000, a bargain price because existing full-liquor licenses traded from other businesses sell for up to $300,000 in Napa County.

Anyone who’s resided in California for at least 90 days prior to the raffle — or any business registered with the Secretary of State to do business in California for 90 days prior to the drawing — was eligible to apply. These licenses are rare commodities because the state normally awards new licenses based on population numbers. No new full-liquor licenses had been issued in Napa County for years, according to Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Under the bill signed into law in 2008, five more licenses will be awarded next year and the last five in 2011.

American Canyon Vice Mayor Don Callison publicly stated his displeasure that no city business has been awarded a license, prompting the city’s letter to Evans. In its letter, the city stated that Alcoholic Beverage Control had suggested that Evans provide the state agency with “clarifying legislation” to address the inequity.

But Chris Albrecht, a division chief for the Alcoholic Beverage Control, stressed his agency did not suggest the city approach Noreen Evans’ office or anyone else to sponsor new legislation.

In an e-mail this week, Evans said more American Canyon businesses need to participate in the license raffle.

“That’s why my office is working with the local Chamber of Commerce and ABC to educate local business owners on the process,” Evans said. “That will tee up more participation from American Canyon and increase the odds that the city gets some of the ten licenses to be awarded over the next two years.”

 Brian Altizer, an owner of Napa Valley Casino, the card room on Highway 29, said he did not apply for a liquor license this summer partly because the business is not set up to serve liquor. But he did not rule out applying for a license in the future, when the company builds a two-story facility behind its current location. “It would help draw more people in,” he said.

Middleton said the Gaia will re-apply next year.