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Drinking Alcohol In Mexico: Laws, Regulations and Consequences of Misconduct

By Jim Labelle

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 25May2011
Word count: 548
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Alcohol is a controlled substance in Mexico and there are laws and regulations regarding its sale and consumption. Just like anywhere, Mexico does have laws that are enforced by police. When you are a visitor in Mexico, you will be expected to abide by rules just like everyone else, and if not, you may be held accountable by the local policia or federales. In order to avoid nasty confrontations with the law and still have a great time in Mexico, educate yourself on its alcohol laws.

The Law Officially, the drinking law in Mexico is 18. Driving drunk is illegal and you could encounter checkpoints, especially if you are in or around Mexico City. You cannot buy alcohol on certain holidays, including Election Day, but other than that, it can be sold 24 hours a day in most places. Drinking in the streets is technically illegal, though you might not know it from the amount of people you will see drinking in the streets.

The Reality While the above laws are legitimate and on the books, the reality is that they are rarely enforced. It is rare to have anyone check an ID in Mexico, so even if you are under 18 it is typically not a problem to drink at a bar or restaurant in Mexico. This is also true for the drinking in the streets law. It is typically OK to drink on the streets as long as your behavior is not extreme. If you are drinking and being obnoxious, rude or violent, expect the authorities to confront you.

Enforcement An anti-drunk driving campaign has been underway in Mexico since early 2000, but it is still quite a problem in Mexico due to lack of enforcement. Some areas have checkpoints, including the areas in and around Cancun and Mexico City, but in other areas beware driving at night or early morning when drunk drivers may be on the loose. While Mexico tends to have a very relaxed attitude towards enforcing laws on tourists, if your behavior warrants it, then the authorities will have no problem making an example out of you.

Consequences While spring break videos may make it appear as if consequences for misconduct don't exist in Mexico, this is a very dangerous misconception to have. Just like in other parts of the world, people who get drunk and cause scenes are not very well liked in Mexico. If the authorities decide to arrest you on an alcohol related offense, it will mean a fine and could mean either jail time or even deportation.

Legal Protection Due to the complications that can arise between alcohol, tourists and the laws, it is always a good idea to protect yourself with travel insurance. Mexpro Assist is a type of travel insurance that offers 24-hour legal service as a benefit. If you are in Mexico and find yourself in a legal situation, you can call and have access to information as to your legal rights. Bilingual legal assistants will discuss your case with the authorities on your behalf. The best way to keep yourself out of trouble in Mexico and still have a good time is to know your rights regarding alcohol and the law in Mexico, and protect them with Mexpro Assist travel insurance.

Mexpro.com® is a website owned by International Insurance Group, Inc., the leading provider of Mexican Car Insurance. The first online Mexico Car Insurance broker to offer multiple company options, Mexpro.com offers the best Mexico Travel Insurance available and online.

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