At Least 70 People Dead in Mexico After Drinking Tainted Alcohol: Report

PEOPLE

May 2020

“There have been reports of individuals falling ill or blacking out after consuming unregulated alcohol,” the U.S. State Department says in its Mexico travel advisory

A number of deaths in Mexico have been linked to unregulated alcohol after many areas of the country have implemented drinking bans to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19)

According to The New York Times, at least 70 people have died since mid-April, with their causes of death believed to be due to drinking tainted alcohol purchased on the black market. The deaths come after some parts of Mexico implemented laws against purchasing spirits to try to squash citizens from gathering for parties and spreading the coronavirus.

About 20 of the deaths presumed to be from methanol poisoning were in Puebla, according to The Guardian, and authorities closed the stores thought to be distributing the tainted drinks. Officials seized about 50 gallons.

Some beer-making plants were also deemed nonessential during the global health crisis, according to Reuters, reducing the breweries’ output in recent weeks.