‘Illicit alcohol’ seized at Mexican Caribbean bars and resorts

Authorities in Mexico temporarily shut down two bars and
seized 10,000 gallons of “illicit alcohol” from an unnamed supplier
to tourist destinations, according to media reports.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last month published
reports about tourists that allegedly blacked out at all-inclusive resorts after
only a few drinks. The most serious incident was the death of 20-year-old Wisconsin
woman Abbey Conner, who drowned in the pool at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya.

Kukulkan, the lobby bar at that resort, was one of the bars
that was temporarily shut down, according to the Journal Sentinel. The other
was Fat Tuesday in Cancun. A total of 90 gallons of illicit alcohol was seized
from both bars.

In a statement, Iberostar said Kukulkan was closed because
the bar wasn’t compliant with sanitary regulations (“a trash container lid
missing, leak from ice machine, etc.”).

However, authorities said they found expired and unlabeled
alcohol as well as unsanitary conditions at Kukulkan, the Journal Sentinel
reported.

Several other establishments in Playa del Carmen and Cancun
were cited by authorities for “lack of maintenance, cleanliness, order and
documentation,” according to the report. In Playa del Carmen, they were
the Hotel Iberostar Paraiso Lindo, Hotel Iberostar Grand Paraiso, La Choperia,
Los Forgotten, McCarthy’s Coco Bongo, Mexico Loco and Guy Fieri’s. In Cancun,
they were the Iberostar Cancun, Hooters, La Vaquita, Blue Gecko, Dady’O, Mr.
Frogs, Crab House, Fred’s House, Porfirio’s Cancun, The Distillery, La Casa del
Habano and Carlos ‘n’ Charlie’s.

Iberostar said it was “working to resolve the issues
pointed by the inspector” at Kukulkan.

“All other bars and restaurants in Iberostar Paraiso
Maya and the remaining nine Iberostar hotels in Mexico remain open and
operating normally,” the resort company said.

After the initial reports of the incidents with tourists
came out last month, agents reported that some clients were concerned about
what they were reading in the consumer press, but only a few had actually
canceled trips.

The U.S. State Department updated its information on Mexico
(not its travel warning, which focuses mainly on criminal organizations) to
include an alert about possible tainted alcohol and a caution about drinking in
moderation.