Recent Mexican government lab tests of alcohol samples taken from the resort where a 20-year old woman drowned under suspicious circumstances have shown that the drinks at the resort are safe and were not tainted. The government is said to be conducting more rigorous and regular inspections at hotels, bars and entertainment venues.

In January 2017, a 20-year old Wisconsin woman drowned at Playa del Carmen’s Iberostar Paraiso del Mar Resort under suspicious circumstances and allegations of tainted alcohol at the resort surfaced following an investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The investigation indicated that other tourists had reported blacking out after imbibing at resorts in Mexico and raised questions about whether it was safe to drink alcoholic beverage at Mexican resorts.

The US State Department then updated the Safety and Security section of its information page related to Mexico with a warning advising travellers who consume alcohol to “do so in moderation and to stop and seek medical attention if you begin to feel ill.”

The tests were done by the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), which is responsible for monitoring a variety of health-related sectors, including food and alcohol. The samples were taken from the resort after it was accused of mixing alcohol with taurine, an ingredient used in energy drinks. The mixing of alcohol with energy drinks is illegal in Mexico and stiff penalties are in place if any establishment is caught serving these types of beverages.

The Canadian government’s travel advice and advisories section related to Mexico does warn travellers about spiked food and drinks and being “wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances or strangers, including taxi drivers, as the items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.” However, it does not specifically mention tainted alcohol at resorts.

As a result of the situation, the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) is reminding agents to adhere to ACTA’s Code of Ethics when dealing with the public seeking to purchase travel.

ACTA is reminding agents that it is your duty to:

- make every effort to ensure that accurate information is provided to enable their clients to exercise an informed judgment in making their choice of travel services;

- advise clients of known health requirements/risks and refer them to a travel medicine professional when appropriate to the trip being undertaken;

ACTA referred to a Mexico Tourism board statement in late-July related to the situation, and suggests that agents refer to a set of FAQs to support the industry.

ACTA also recommends that members continue to refer their clients to the advice and advisories on the government of Canada websites Travel.gc.ca  and international.gc.ca, the Government of Canada’s official source of destination-specific information, to help your clients make informed decisions and to travel safely while abroad.

Travellers should check these websites for their destination prior to planning their trip, and again shortly before they leave as safety and security conditions may change between the date the trip is booked and the actual departure date.

Portions of this story were taken from an original story written by Janeen Christoff.

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