Vivian Marlowe
In 2017, Mexican authorities seized 10,000 gallons of illegal alcohol from 31 bars, nightclubs, and resorts in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The crackdown was prompted by reports of tourists blacking out after consuming small amounts of alcohol. The death of 20-year-old Abbey Conner, who drowned in a pool at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort after drinking at the lobby bar, brought the issue to light. The US State Department issued a warning about alcohol consumption in Mexico, and the Mexican government shut down two bars, including the one at the Iberostar resort. Despite assurances from Mexico's Secretary of Tourism that the alcohol served in resorts is safe, concerns about tainted alcohol in Mexican resorts persist, with tourists reporting blackouts, assaults, and illnesses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location of Resorts | Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Mexico |
| Number of Resorts Raided | 31 |
| Resorts/Bars Involved | Iberostar Paraiso Maya, Fat Tuesday, Nachi Cocom Beach Club, Iberostar Paraiso del Mar, Paradisus Los Cabos |
| Alcohol Characteristics | Expired, Unlabeled, Kept in Unsanitary Conditions |
| Tourist Experiences | Blackouts, Robberies, Assaults, Hospitalizations, Injuries, Illnesses, Deaths |
| Tourist Responses | TripAdvisor Reviews, Complaints to Resort Management, Lawsuits |
| Government Responses | Raids, Alcohol Seizures, Shutdowns of Bars, Investigations, Travel Advisories |
| Industry Responses | Denials, Claims of Misconstrued Information, Assurance of Safety |
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What You'll Learn
The death of 20-year-old Abbey Conner at Iberostar Paraiso Maya
In January 2017, 20-year-old Abbey Conner drowned in a pool at the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Conner had been drinking alcohol with her 22-year-old brother, Austin, at the resort's lobby bar. Soon after, Conner was found by hotel staff floating face down, while her brother was found drowning nearby in shallow water. He survived, but Conner was pronounced brain-dead after suffering an "anoxic brain injury". She was taken off life support on January 12.
Conner's family believes that her death was caused by tainted alcohol served at the resort and that her death was not an accident. They have filed a lawsuit against the resort, alleging that the staff knew the alcohol was "poisonous". The US State Department has also issued warnings about tainted alcohol in Mexico, and there have been numerous reports from tourists who have experienced blackouts and other illnesses after consuming small amounts of alcohol at resorts.
In the wake of Conner's death, Mexican authorities raided 31 resorts, nightclubs, and restaurants in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, seizing around 90 gallons of alcohol being kept in unsanitary conditions. Of this, about 235 gallons were found to contain dangerous levels of methanol, a toxic chemical commonly found in windshield washer fluid. The alcohol seized from the Iberostar Paraiso Maya, located in the same cluster of resorts as the del Mar, was expired, unlabeled, and kept in unsanitary conditions.
The death of Abbey Conner and the subsequent investigation have brought the issue of tainted alcohol in Mexico into the spotlight, with tourists being warned to exercise caution when consuming alcohol at resorts and tourist spots in the country.
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10,000 gallons of tainted alcohol seized from 31 resorts
In 2017, Mexican authorities seized 10,000 gallons of illegal alcohol from 31 resorts, nightclubs, and restaurants in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The crackdown on counterfeit alcohol was prompted by the death of 20-year-old American tourist Abbey Conner, who drowned in a pool after drinking tainted alcohol at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort.
The alcohol was supplied by an illicit manufacturer and was potentially tainted due to "bad manufacturing practices." The company, which was not named by regulators, was cited for issues such as expired and unlabeled alcohol and unsanitary storage conditions. Two bars were shut down during the raids, including the swim-up bar at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort, and a total of 90 gallons of alcohol were confiscated from these bars alone.
The seizures were part of a broader government crackdown on counterfeit alcohol in Mexico, with authorities confiscating 1.4 million gallons of tainted alcohol from various business establishments since 2010. The problem of tainted alcohol in Mexico has been a long-standing issue, with reports suggesting that up to 36% of alcohol consumed in the country is illegal.
Tourists visiting Mexico, particularly those consuming alcohol at resorts and tourist hotspots, have reported blacking out, illnesses, injuries, and even deaths after drinking small or moderate amounts of alcohol. Many have shared their experiences on websites like TripAdvisor, warning others about the potential dangers of tainted alcohol in the country.
While the Mexican Secretary of Tourism has denied the presence of tainted alcohol, attributing the incidents to binge drinking, business owners and illegal liquor distributors around Cancun have admitted to the sale of tainted alcohol in the area. The raids and seizures of 10,000 gallons of alcohol from 31 resorts highlight the Mexican government's efforts to address this issue and improve the safety of tourists visiting the country.
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Tourists report blackouts, assaults, and robberies
Tourists have reported blackouts, assaults, robberies, and even deaths after drinking small and moderate amounts of alcohol at Mexican resorts. In some cases, tourists reported losing consciousness after just one drink, and later waking up to find they had been robbed, assaulted, or even hospitalized. Many tourists have also reported encountering uncooperative or hostile resort workers, hospital staff, and police officers.
In 2017, Mexican authorities seized 10,000 gallons of illegal alcohol after discovering that an illicit manufacturer was supplying tourist attractions in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The potentially tainted alcohol was confiscated from 31 resorts, nightclubs, and restaurants in the area. Two bars were shut down, including one at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort, where a 20-year-old American woman, Abbey Conner, drowned in a pool after drinking at the resort's lobby bar.
Despite the denials of the Mexican Secretary of Tourism, Enriaue de la Madrid Cordero, who claimed that reports of tainted alcohol were the result of binge drinking, business owners around Cancun admitted to the presence of tainted alcohol in the area. Felipe Rosado, a restaurant owner, revealed that illegal liquor distributors take advantage of big parties to sell cheap liquor.
The problem of tainted alcohol in Mexican resorts has been an ongoing issue, with tourists continuing to report blackouts, assaults, and other injuries after consuming alcohol at resorts. In one case, a couple reported blacking out and vomiting after 30 minutes of drinking at the Nachi Cocom Beach Club. Another family reported that their 19-year-old son had only one beer during dinner but later blacked out and woke up with no memory of what happened.
In addition to the risks of tainted alcohol, Mexico also has a high rate of criminal activity, including violent crime, gang activity, and kidnapping. Tourists are often targeted for robbery, and there have been reports of criminals adding drugs to food and drinks to facilitate sexual assaults and robberies. It is important for visitors to Mexico to be vigilant and take precautions to ensure their safety.
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The Mexican government shuts down two tequila distilleries
In February 2018, the Mexican government shut down two black market tequila distilleries and confiscated nearly 20,000 gallons of illegal tequila. This came after years of reports of tainted alcohol being served at Mexican resorts.
In January 2017, 20-year-old Abbey Conner drowned in a pool at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya, a luxury resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Conner had been drinking at the hotel's pool bar with her brother, Austin, who nearly drowned as well. The incident brought the issue of tainted alcohol in Mexico into the spotlight and led to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation that found over 200 other holidaymakers with similar experiences at similar resorts. Many reported blacking out after drinking small or moderate amounts of alcohol and then being robbed, assaulted, or injured.
In August 2017, the Mexican government raided 31 resorts, nightclubs, and restaurants in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, seizing 10,000 gallons of illegal alcohol. The alcohol was supplied by an illicit manufacturer and was kept in unsanitary conditions. Following these raids, the US State Department issued a warning about alcohol consumption at Mexican resorts.
Despite these incidents and warnings, the Mexican Secretary of Tourism, Enriaue de la Madrid Cordero, continued to deny any evidence of tainted alcohol in Mexico, attributing the reports to binge drinking and claiming that the liquor served at resorts is "good" alcohol that is simply not taxed. However, business owners around Cancun admitted to a reporter that tainted alcohol is indeed for sale in the area.
The issue of tainted alcohol in Mexico has raised concerns about the safety of tourists consuming alcohol at resorts and the effectiveness of the government's response.
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The US State Department issues warnings about alcohol in Mexico
The US State Department has issued warnings about alcohol in Mexico, urging travellers to exercise caution when consuming alcoholic beverages in the country. The warnings were issued in response to reports of tainted or substandard alcohol being sold in Mexican resorts, which has allegedly resulted in illnesses, injuries, and even deaths among tourists.
In 2017, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on the death of a 20-year-old Wisconsin woman, Abbey Conner, who drowned in a pool at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort in Mexico after drinking a small amount of alcohol. The Sentinel's investigation revealed that other travellers had experienced similar incidents of blacking out after consuming limited amounts of alcohol at resorts in Mexico. As a result, the US State Department updated its safety and security information for Mexico, warning travellers about the potential risks of consuming tainted alcohol and recommending that they drink in moderation and seek medical attention if they feel ill.
The issue of tainted alcohol in Mexico is not an isolated incident. According to a 2017 report by Euromonitor International, up to 36% of alcohol consumed in Mexico is illegal. In the same year, Mexican authorities seized 10,000 gallons of illegal alcohol from 31 resorts, nightclubs, and restaurants in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The alcohol was found to be expired, unlabeled, and kept in unsanitary conditions.
In addition to the risks of tainted alcohol, the US State Department has also warned travellers about other safety concerns in Mexico, particularly in certain states. These warnings include exercising increased caution due to crime and kidnapping, avoiding travelling alone, and providing travel details and GPS locations to family or friends.
It is important for travellers to Mexico to be vigilant and take necessary precautions when consuming alcohol. The US State Department recommends drinking in moderation, sticking to familiar brands, and avoiding strongly flavoured mixed drinks that could mask the taste or smell of tainted liquor. Travellers should also be aware of their surroundings and avoid leaving drinks unattended to minimise the risk of drink spiking or tampering.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mexican government raided 31 resorts, nightclubs and restaurants in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, including the Iberostar Paraiso Maya, where 20-year-old Abbey Conner drowned in the pool after drinking at the lobby bar. Other resorts with reports of tainted alcohol include the Nachi Cocom Beach Club, Iberostar Paraiso del Mar, and Paradisus Los Cabos.
In January 2017, 20-year-old Abbey Conner and her 22-year-old brother Austin consumed alcohol at the pool bar of the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They soon began experiencing ill effects, and both drowned in the pool. Conner's family filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit against the resort, claiming that the alcohol served was "tainted, substandard, poisonous, [and] unfit for human consumption." The lawsuit also alleged that the resort was negligent in failing to provide lifeguards at the pool and in not notifying the family when the siblings were taken to the hospital.
In response to the reports of tainted alcohol in Mexican resorts, the Mexican government conducted a series of raids in August 2017, confiscating a total of 10,000 gallons of illegal alcohol. The government shut down two bars, including the one at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort, and temporarily shut down another bar in Cancun, seizing 90 gallons of alcohol. The US State Department also issued a travel advisory regarding tainted alcohol in Mexico, and the US Office of Inspector General announced an investigation into the response by the US State Department.
