Respondents who said they crossed the border into Mexico were first asked, “How many days did you drink at least one alcoholic beverage?” The average weekly number of drinks consumed in Mexico was estimated from the question “At those times you were drinking in Mexico, how many drinks did you drink on average?” The frequency of binge drinking was estimated from the question: “On these occasions, when you drank in Mexico in the past 12 months, how many times did you drink five (men) / four (women) or more alcoholic beverages on one occasion, that is, within two hours?” Mexico has a lower drinking age than many other countries, so visitors might be tempted to indulge too much. But it`s important to remember that Mexico also has strict laws against drunk driving and public drunkenness. If you are caught driving under the influence of alcohol, you can face serious consequences. There are a few things you can do to avoid drinking contaminated alcohol while you`re in Mexico. First, drink only from reliable sources, such as licensed bars and restaurants. Second, don`t accept drinks from strangers or people you don`t know well. Avoid alcohol-based beverages if you are unsure of the source of the alcohol and stick to beer. Previous work based on the dataset analyzed here confirmed that the border is a place where people drink more, especially among young American adults of Mexican descent. For example, among men aged 18 to 29, the rate of binge drinking at least once a year was 48% among those at the border, compared with 36% among a comparative sample of Mexican Americans living outside the border, mainly in Houston, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. For women in the same age group, the percentages of cross-border and extra-cross-border binge drinking were 26% and 14% respectively. Data on alcohol-related health and social problems, discussed in the introduction, point in the same direction (Vaeth et al., 2012).
Yes, the legal drinking age in Cancun is 18. That means you can drink alcohol at all-inclusive resorts, bars, restaurants, and clubs if you`re at least 18. This makes Cancun a popular spring break destination for underage students. The rule for drinking is the same as in other countries: you must bring your ID card to provide valid proof of age. Violation of Mexican alcohol laws will result in penalties, the highest of which would be imprisonment. At the very least, you can be kicked out of a bar or fined if you`re caught drinking as a minor. Also, expect penalties if you decide to drink and get drunk in public and drive under the influence of alcohol. While a drink or two while vacationing in Mexico isn`t usually a cause for concern, it`s important to know and follow the country`s alcohol laws to avoid drunk driving and public drunkenness. Also take care of your surroundings and follow our simple safety tips and you should be able to avoid potential legal problems and have a safe and enjoyable time in Mexico.
But what if you or a member of your party is under the legal drinking age and you`ve booked a resort in Cancun? The epidemiological picture that can be drawn from studies of alcohol consumption at the border is complex, with variations in levels of alcohol consumption and prevalence of problems dependent on socio-demographic factors. First, some studies suggest that binge drinking and related problems are more common along the border (e.g., Caetano, Ramisetty-Mikler, Wallisch, McGrath & Spence, 2008; Caetano, Vaeth, Mills and Rodriguez, in press; Harrison and Kennedy, 1996; Holck, Warren, Smith, & Rochat, 1984; Wallisch, 1998; Wallisch and Spence, 2006) than in non-cross-border populations. For example, the rate of binge drinking over 12 months once a month or more among Hispanic men at the border was 36%, compared with 6-7% among Hispanics outside the border (Caetano et al., 2008; Grant et al., 2004). Alcohol dependence (12-month rate) was also more common among Hispanic men at the border (14.5%) than among Hispanic men nationally (5.9%). However, alcohol abuse (rate at 12 months) was 6.2% among Hispanic men nationally and 6.9% among men at the border (Caetano et al., 2008; Grant et al., 2004). Each country has a different legal age to consume alcohol. In addition to the difference between the United States and Mexico, there are Japan, Thailand and Iceland, where 20 is the drinking age; In South Korea and Qatar, the legal drinking age is 19. About 64% of the world, including Italy, says 18 is the legal drinking age, and many others have made drinking illegal, such as Libya, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.
Of course, just because the legal drinking age in Mexico is 18 doesn`t mean everyone follows the law. You may notice that some places do not check ID and do not serve alcohol to minors.
