So the US State Department has issued a warning about tainted alcohol in Mexico after the latest incident at a 5* Iberostar. On almost every trip we have made to Cancun someone we were partying with made a comment about the alcohol tasting off. What I've experienced seemed to have been a much lower "proof" alcohol than I am used to at home. Tainted isn't the way that I'd describe it...........more like watered down. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?
Same I always asked for mine to be made stronger. Granted I have seen some sketchy stuff in Prev. trips but I dont think it had anything to do with the people MAKING the drinks
I think these stories are kind of bs. I read this morning that a woman died from taking 1 shot and that her BAC was .25! How someone can read that an think its true is beyond me! I think people just get there on the first day and start drinking everything in site. Plus the lack of food and sleep from excitement of finally being on vacation. The first day always makes for a hard second day! LOL Guy
I would agree there is a little bit of difference in the alcohol taste for 3 reasons: (which your hear plenty of times "this tastes funny") 1. The soda tastes different in general. A coke from the fountain/gun doesn't taste like a coke from the fountain in the states. Making a mixed drink with a mix that tastes different than normal is 100% going to make your drink taste off. 2. The cheap "well" booze isn't what your used to (unless you're still drinking Bankers Club like your were in high-school) - if you don't ask for your drink to be made with a specific brand of liquor, you're getting the cheap bottles. That stuff just tastes terrible because the distillation process isn't the same. So there are more impurities, which lead to multiple problems including: throwing up cause your stomach doesn't like it, and worse hangovers cause the quality of the spirit. 3. IMO I feel the good bartenders actually are trying to do you a favor by making your drink weaker. If you show up and start ordering full mixed drinks immediately after breakfast, and you're looking like your day is going to be spent at the pool, then having a drink that isn't as potent isn't such a bad idea. To expand...Even in the states if one of my regular bartenders knows I am in it for the long haul for a day at the bar, they are going to make my drinks regular. But if I clearly state I am just stopping in for a little, they will just instinctively make me doubles. Not that the bartenders at TTR know my drinking style the same way the bartenders that spend Christmas eve at my house know me, but I think they do make conscious decisions on what and when they are serving. They have to be semi-protective they aren't over serving someone. So if they are making your drinks weaker cause you appear drunk, or maybe you look like a lightweight, or you actually were a lightweight the day before, then I don't think it's all that odd to make your drinks weaker/watered down. I was just at the family all-inclusive, and our first drinks were made on the weaker side. But once I established a rapport with the bartenders, it's basically a head nod to make the drink for real, and wink returned that they did, and you're on the same page with a fully loaded drink.
It wasn't a warning just an update to it's safety advisory section of their website about an allegation of news reports about tainted alcohol The U.S. State Department is cautioning Americans visiting Mexico to be conscious of "allegations that consumption of tainted or substandard alcohol has resulted in illness or blacking out," within the country. It doesn't form part of the general Mexico Travel Warning They however have update their Safety and Security advisory section to indicate Alcohol: There have been allegations that consumption of tainted or substandard alcohol has resulted in illness or blacking out. If you choose to drink alcohol, it is important to do so in moderation and to stop and seek medical attention if you begin to feel ill.
Great points made here, Yes if you drink soda in your drink the drink is going to be "off" a lot. They use sugar not corn syrup in there coke so the recipe is actually a different recipe altogether. If you order a drink with out being specific on the liquor used you are getting well and it is not where near the well drinks in the states. The well drinks in the US will get my head spinning after 2 drinks where a middle or top shelf I wont have a hang over after 6. So stop ordering well drinks. I think the biggest thing to remember is you where just on a flight your body takes time to equalize. If you had a drink on the plane, then had a drink at the airport, then several at the bar you are going to get drunk to an extreme point. I watched an interview with the family this morning and the Son was asked " Do you think you and your sister might have simply had to much to drink." He answered "yes it is possible, but why were we the only two that got so drunk." Really? Tolerance, maybe. Weight, age , practice, and those other people may have been there for even a couple more hours then them. Could they have eaten and you had not, If so what did you eat? The girl was 120 lbs(ish) with every factor given it is very possible that they just drank to much. Then there is also always a possibility that there was something wrong with the liquor. Then again if the liquor was bad why were they the only two that had a problem if it.
Thanks for the clarification, but still wonder how many others have thought the alcohol to be "different" in Mexico?
I have never noticed anything different and I drink Milago tequila at home and TTR . I drink it with club soda/mineral water so I don't have the issue of additives in the soda portion. The one time I forgot to ask for Milagro last July (our first day) I got whatever they the use for well and it was nasty. Not because it was bad or tainted but it was nasty.
Traveled around the world for years. Been in Mexico more times then I can count. My take on it is this........ Many of these people that experience black outs, don't remember things, fall ill, etc etc chances are just drinking more alcohol then there use to, combine with the hot sun, and it can be a recipe for disaster. Not too mention some people on meds mixing this all together. Back home maybe a few to many drinks at the local air condition pub and no problems. Many people are having a lot of fun and forget to eat or eat to little also factors in. Back home your usually not mixing a few beers with few mix drinks followed by 2 to 5 random shots or whatever like you do on vacation over 4 hours or so sitting around the pool. It's like the old drinking buddy from college who is now married and 20 years later goes out with the boys and is passed out by 9 because he thinks he can drink like he did 20 years ago. Sure some shady things happen in certain cases. It happens probably every weekend in your local city also. I don't think these mega resorts are sneaking in illegal alcohol made in Jose's backyard. I do know they get randomly checked and must have some code sticker from the distributor on the bottles and the fines are massive for not having it. Usually when someone gets busted its because they bought bottles cheaper at store than from the distributor. I have heard and even seen first hand the pouring of cheaper brand liquor into a premium brand bottle. But I've also heard and seen that in the states also and by no means do any of these establishments do that on a daily basis. On alcohol tasting different I concur with everyone else its the mixers. I'm a huge gin or vodka with tonic fan and its hard to find a good tasting tonic in Mexico. We all know what lemonade taste like, try ordering a lemonade in Mexico once and see what you get. All mixers have a different taste than many of the US brands we are use to. Even the Coke is different from the gun and you even find that back here based on the carbonation added (ex: Mc Donalds Coke usually taste different than Burger King Coke or where ever). Remember we are in a different country and things aren't suppose to be or taste exactly like home.
