Despite concerns that easing the state's private-club laws would cause a run on available liquor licenses, regulators haven't had to turn anyone away empty-handed.

Members of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control commission granted licenses to all 10 private-club applicants before them Wednesday and still have 18 more licenses available for Utah's equivalent of bars.

In fact, the last time the state ran out of licenses was in January 2003, according to department staff.

But two of the five commissioners said they'd like to see the Legislature do away with the quota system set up to determine the number of licenses available based on the state's population.

Because the population estimates recently dropped by just over 40,000 people, the number of private-club licenses available in the state fell from 362 to 357. Other categories of liquor licenses were also affected, including both full- and limited-service restaurant licenses. There are only eight full-service licenses left, which allows restaurants to offer all types of alcohol, and 15 limited service licenses that permit just beer and wine sales.

"I think this is a little bit frightening to see," said Commissioner Mary Ann Mantes. "It's time we not have quotas."

After the meeting, Commission Chairman Sam Granato also said lawmakers need to take a look at doing away with quotas.

"Why is the quota there? Why are we handcuffing them?" asked Granato, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. "Based on the quotas we have now, we are running out of licenses."

The quotas have been adjusted by lawmakers several times over the years, and new categories of licenses have been created to accommodate more drinking establishments.

Any effort to increase the number of liquor licenses available could be a tough sell to lawmakers next year, however.

The 2009 Legislature passed a sweeping change to the state's private-club law, eliminating membership requirements as of July 1. That means drinkers will no longer have to fill out applications or pay fees to patronize private clubs.

The change was sought by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to make the state more tourist-friendly. But Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, who will take over from Huntsman once the governor is confirmed as U.S. ambassador to China, has said he doesn't want to make any further changes to the law anytime soon.

And Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said recently there's little interest in increasing the number of liquor licenses available in Utah.