Rundown of risks at Mexico resorts
Tourists beware: Q&A on the horror stories some Americans are telling about what happened after they drank even small amounts of alcohol
Travelers to all-inclusive resorts in Mexico are blacking out after drinking small and moderate amounts of alcohol, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation has found. Many have reported they were robbed, assaulted and otherwise injured while being blacked out and can’t recall anything that happened when they regained consciousness. Several have died. Those who sought medical care from on-site doctors or went to the hospital said that they were met with demands for large sums of cash up front and that they were treated poorly. Those who tried to report crimes to police said that resort officials discouraged them from doing so and that police themselves were reluctant to file reports.
Furthermore, the U.S. State Department does little to help. U.S. officials can’t translate, offer legal advice or force Mexican resorts or hospitals to do anything to help Americans. And the agency does not keep data on how and where U.S. citizens are injured.
The Journal Sentinel has heard from more than 70 people in recent weeks who said they had similar experiences. And the number is growing. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:
QIN
WHAT CITIES HAS THIS BEEN HAPPENING?
AThe
State Department does not track this information. The Journal Sentinel has heard from travelers who reported problems while staying in Cancún, Playa del Carmen and other towns along Riviera Maya as well as Cozumel, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.
QIN
WHICH RESORTS HAS THIS BEEN HAPPENING?
AThere
is no comprehensive list of resorts where verifiable problems have occurred. The State Department does not track this information. The Journal Sentinel interviewed and received documented accounts from tourists who were staying at Iberostar Paraiso del Mar, Iberostar Paraiso Maya, Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso, Iberostar Cancún, Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya, Hard Rock Hotel Cancún, Grand Oasis Cancún, Secrets Akumal, Riviera Maya, Luxury Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an, and one who was not staying overnight but visited the spa at the Grand Velas.
QWHEN
DID THE INCIDENTS HAPPEN?
AThe
vast majority of incidents reported to the Journal Sentinel occurred in the past 18 months. A few, including the drowning death of Nolan Webster, whose mother launched the website mexicovacationawareness.com, dated back years.
Q IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC ALCOHOL PEOPLE ARE SAYING MAY BE TO BLAME?
A Many of the vacationers reported drinking tequila shots. Others had mixed drinks, such as rum-and-Cokes, and margaritas. A cocktail called Purple Rain and a shot named the Mexican Flag were mentioned more than once, but vacationers didn’t know the ingredients. A couple of people also said they drank draft beer. Mexico’s government has long been aware of alcohol problems in the country; it found as much as 36% of all alcohol consumed was illegal, meaning it’s sold or produced under unregulated conditions.
Q ARE TOURISTS BEING TARGETED AND DRUGGED?
A Tourists report blacking out, sometimes simultaneously with a friend or spouse. When they wake up, they do not feel hung over and they do not have memories of what happened. Some said they felt numb and mentally fuzzy for a day or two afterward. Those who have not been affected but witnessed the effects on their friends and loved ones said the blackout victim experienced some or all of the following symptoms: violent vomiting, foaming from the mouth and nose, turning pale, having seizures, looking as if they were dying, becoming aggressive or combative, acting lost and not knowing how to do common tasks.
Pharmacologists say some of the symptoms sound like date rape drugs such as GHB or scolopamine, quaaludes or PCP. None of the travelers could say for certain what caused them to blackout. Local hospitals have not been testing for those specific drugs.
Q ARE THERE ANY TIPS FOR TRAVELERS TO HELP PREVENT BLACKOUTS AND OTHER INJURIES?
A Read the State Department website on Mexico travel warnings and the Mexico country page to become familiar with some of the crime and other things that have been happening in Mexico.
Travel in pairs or groups. Don’t drink alone. Request beer in a bottle and open it yourself when possible. Have a designated person who does not consume any opened beverage, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, from the bar. Make sure you have a minimum of $2,000 of available credit on your credit card if you need medical care at a local hospital. Some tourists needed as much as $50,000. Read the fine print if you purchase travel insurance. Some companies refuse to pay if you are injured while intoxicated.
Q WHAT ARE THE AMERICAN AND MEXICAN GOVERNMENTS DOING?
A Mexican authorities swept through 31 resorts, restaurants and nightclubs in Cancún and surrounding areas in early August and seized illegal alcohol from the hotel lobby at Iberostar Paraiso Maya and Fat Tuesdays in Cancún. In addition, authorities seized 10,000 gallons of alcohol from a company that was using “poor manufacturing practices” and supplying tourist hot spots. Mexican officials did not disclose the name of the manufacturer or which resorts or nightclubs it might have been supplying.
Health authorities also cited the following establishments in Playa del Carmen and Cancún for lack of maintenance, cleanliness, order and documentation: Hotel Iberostar Paraiso Lindo, Iberostar Grand Paraiso Hotel, La Chopería, Los Olvidados, Mc Carthy Bar, Coco Bongo, crazy Mexico, Guy Frieri. Iberostar Hotel Cancún, Hooters, La Vaquita, Blue Gecko, Dady´O, Señor Frogs, Crab House, Fred’s House, Porfirio’s Cancún, the distillery, La Casa del Habano and Carlos ’n Charlie’s. Authorities did not disclose whether the problems were related to alcohol. They did not respond to follow-up questions from the Journal Sentinel.
A Mexican senator said the legislative health committee will unveil broader plans to combat illegal alcohol in September. After the initial Journal Sentinel reports, the State Department added information to its website informing travelers of problems with alcohol at Mexican resorts. The chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is pressing the Mexican government and U.S. State Department to further investigate.
Q WHAT SHOULD TOURISTS DO IF THEY SUSPECT THEY’VE BEEN DRUGGED OR HAVE BEEN ROBBED, ASSAULTED OR OTHERWISE INJURED?
A State Department officials suggest victims of crime contact the U.S. Embassy Consular office; officers there can supply contact information on how to reach local police and file a report. They also can accompany Americans to the police or hospital when requested. Here is contact information for consular offices:
Authorities seized 10,000 gallons of alcohol from a company that was using “poor manufacturing practices” and supplying tourist hot spots.