tainted alcohol mexico

Counterfeit alcohol had been eyed as a … 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). MEXICO INVESTIGATION: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found widespread problems with tainted alcohol, derelict law enforcement, price gouging from hospitals INTERACTIVE: The Victims The reports on these raids cited tainted alcohol, and included the confiscation of 10,000 gallons of alcohol from the 31 resorts and bars in the tourist spots of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Credit: Ten thousand gallons of this alcohol was seized -- although according to the OIG, none tested positive for any dangerous substances. An FBI investigation has ruled out tainted booze as the cause in three mysterious US tourist deaths in the Dominican Republic, according to a report. Related: 53 Travel Health Essentials The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which has. "According to Ms. Connor's family, and other victims who have since come forward, the consumption of allegedly tainted alcohol at Mexican resorts has led to violence, physical abuse and even death," Johnson's letter to the State Department states. In the letter, the inspector general’s office also outlines the steps the State Department has taken to address the tainted-alcohol complaints in Mexico. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments. "We mostly had to focus on the actions of the State Department. To reiterate, no tainted or adulterated alcohol has been found anywhere on the premises of any of the Iberostar-flagged properties in Mexico, as confirmed by Mexico authorities last month. For more information or to donate, click here. New findings from the State Department’s Office of Inspector General are putting a spotlight on the difficulties Americans can face when they get sick and need help in other countries — especially if that illness might be the result of a crime. The family of a young woman who died after possibly drinking tainted alcohol is now suing the Mexican resort that served her. (CNN) The United States is warning travelers to Mexico about tainted or counterfeit alcohol following the death of a Wisconsin woman. Abbey Conner drowned in a … The website was created to make travelers aware of the many unknown dangers that await you when traveling to Mexico, and so victims and their families have a place to tell their stories. Those difficulties range from failure to issue police reports, … Gary Davidson, an attorney for the family of Abbey Conner, continues to seek answers and compensation for the family's loss. UPDATE 8/15/2017: Mexican authorities have seized 10,000 gallons of illegal alcohol. Johnson first wrote to enquire about the cases involving allegations of tainted alcohol in October 2017. It can cause blindness and death. And the State Department's work led to the Mexican government opening an office staffed with bilingual attorneys to help American tourists file police reports. At times families were told by State officials that they could not help them navigate the Mexican law enforcement or healthcare process. Two bars -- including one that served Abbey and Austin Conner -- have been shut down as a result. The response, obtained by CNN, said that two bars were ultimately shut down by Mexican authorities after the State Department pressured them to inspect a number of establishments. "I respectfully ask the Office of the Inspector General to examine how the Department monitors, records and reports overseas incidents involving physical abuse or death after the consumption of potentially tainted alcohol. ", The official said the Mexican government was receptive to the US's urgings to do something about‎ the problem, but added, "Mexico doesn't want to lose tourist dollars. "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. The majority of the resorts reached by the Journal Sentinel said they were aware of the incidents, investigated them but could find no evidence of tainted alcohol or foul play. She and her brother Austin lost consciousness soon after consuming alcohol at the pool bar in the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar on the first day of their family's vacation. All around the world today there are imitation products scandals with meat, and bacterial contamination. Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype, Coronavirus Has Been Devastating to Americans’ Mental Health — Here's What to Do, U.S. Coming 'Perilously Close' to Meat Shortage Due to COVID-19 Closures, a Major Supplier Warns. Some beer-making plants were also deemed nonessential during the global health crisis, according to Reuters, reducing the breweries' output in recent weeks. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The Republic | azcentral.com. About 10,000 gallons, or 37, 854 litres, of tainted alcohol has been found at resorts in Mexico following a series of raids.. In this year of 2017, the publication, Euromonitor International reported that as much as 36% of all alcohol served to the tourist trade in Mexico can be severely contaminated. Tainted alcohol in Mexico: What you need to know. Mexican officials say they've seized 1.4 million gallons of tainted alcohol, a toxic mix of cheap ingredients from Mexican businesses in the past seven years including tourist hot spots like resort, clubs and bars. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. Yet despite recording the summaries of various reported cases, OIG did not express an opinion as to whether extensive handling of alleged cases of tainted alcohol in Mexico falls under the State Department's area of responsibility. But tainted … Johnson sent his letter to the State Department just months after the death of a 20-year-old woman from Wisconsin named Abbey Conner in January 2017. Authorities also temporarily shut down Fat Tuesday, a bar located in Cancun, and took a total of 90 gallons of alcohol from both bars. "OIG cannot draw definitive conclusions about any individual consular officer's compliance with Department policies in these cases," their response to Johnson's letter says, since State Department guidance on this issue remains vague. Stories of tainted alcohol being served at Mexican all inclusive resorts have been spreading like wildfire on social media today. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: At Least 70 People Dead in Mexico After Drinking Tainted Alcohol: Report. Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app, Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old, Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat, The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana, Sean Connery's Cause of Death Revealed Weeks After He Dies at Age 90. And as of June 2019, an ongoing investigation into the deaths of at least 10 Americans in the Dominican Republic over the course of the preceding 12 months is looking into the possibility of alcohol-related causes — potentially tainted alcohol — as many of the deceased fell ill after drinking from the minibar. In January, a 20-year-old from Wisconsin died after allegedly ingesting tainted alcohol and then drowning in a resort pool in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. While that seems like a shocking number, please keep in mind that the Riviera Maya is … An official with the inspector general's office told CNN their investigation is now closed. Officials seized about 50 gallons. 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. While there is no indication of a link between the incidents that occurred in Mexico and the more recent cases in the Dominican Republic, the response to Johnson's 2017 letter highlights several concerns related to the US government's handling of inquires involving American tourists abroad. T he U.S. State Department has warned tourists visiting Mexico about “tainted” or “substandard” alcohol that can cause illness and blacking out. This led to an underground industry of alcohol in Mexico that has had deadly consequences. Do you think there is any merit to these stories and have any of you experienced anything like this? "In addition, OIG's review was complicated by the fact that the guidance for consular personnel who face these types of situations is general and sometimes advisory, mainly because of the complex and variable nature of the incidents themselves.". As the Secretary continued to deny any evidence of tainted alcohol in Mexico, Ms. Caruso-Cabrera moved onto the raids at 31 resorts that were announced by the Mexican Government on August 14, 2017. Those findings are included in the Conner family's wrongful death lawsuit against Iberostar, filed last year. RELATED: Coronavirus Has Been Devastating to Americans’ Mental Health — Here's What to Do. It's a huge source of revenue.". Last summer, the Dominican Republican and Costa Rica dealt with similar deadly tainted-alcohol situations, with toxic levels of methanol being reported in liquor. By Michelle Kosinski and Zachary Cohen, CNN. The government of Mexico has said that there is illegal production of alcohol in Mexico. “Bottles may be sold in shops, markets and bars, often at a ‘bargain’ price.”. The U.S. State … Only days ago, on May 13, 2020 the New York Times first broke the story with a headline that read, “At Least 70 Dead in Mexico from drinking Tainted Alcohol”. I will be blunt when I say tainted alcohol is a real thing. ", Despite prompting a wide-ranging probe into the issue, which included reviewing every complaint made to the State Department about possible bootleg alcohol, interviewing the people involved and significant coordination with the Mexican government, the Inspector General ultimately concluded that a "formal report would not be appropriate.". The OIG's response did detail some of the difficulties American families of victims faced in getting help from the State Department while in Mexico, which some families described as "insensitive," "bureaucratic," or virtually nonexistent. A man looks for a soda following the shortage of beer, after breweries countrywide closed production due to the coronavirus in Monterrey, state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on May 5. More than 100 people have died of tainted alcohol in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. The ‘My Mexico Story’ area has stories submitted by victims detailing incidents of tainted alcohol… “Some illicitly-produced drinks are made to appear legitimate through bottle design and labelling and consumers can be misled into believing they are buying a genuine brand of alcohol,” WHO warned of methanol poisoning outbreaks. Ultimately, the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs did provide OIG with a list of 15 complaints that it has received since 2017 related to the consumption of unregulated alcohol by Americans in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the most visited by tourists from the US. US warns about tainted alcohol in Mexico (2017), US agencies investigating hack of government networks, CDC approves Covid-19 vaccine for use in the US, First batch of Covid-19 vaccine ships out for distribution, NYPD commissioner says 'shots rang out' after Christmas caroling, Bill Gates: Presidential transition complicating vaccine efforts, FedEx exec shows off 'guardian angel' tracking technology, Jake Tapper wants to thank Trump. Though other sources have said, in past years, it was as high as 43%. My husband and I leave for Secrets Akumal in a week and now I am a bit nervous. Get push notifications with news, features and more. The U.S. State Department has warned travelers in Mexico about possible tainted alcohol, leaving many to wonder if it’s safe to indulge in their vacation margaritas. Raquel Rutledge has been investigating this story for the past six months. A warning in Mexico after 100 die from drinking tainted alcohol amid coronavirus shortages, bans A shortage of beer, bans on sales and the state of … Lydia Birt. JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images. 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). Some statistics show as much as 43 percent of all the alcohol consumed in Mexico is illegal and produced under unregulated circumstances. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. Methanol — which is typically found in antifreeze, varnishes and fuels — is often added to counterfeit or informally made alcoholic drinks, according to the World Heath Organization. As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. New York Times Reports “At Least 70 Dead” from Tainted Alcohol As the Coronavirus continues to devastate countries across the globe, a new headline emerged. In several of those cases, families have alleged that the victims became ill just after consuming alcohol, leading the FBI to look into whether tainted alcohol might be a factor there as well. Coronavirus closures hit beer supply, driving tainted alcohol deaths in Mexico May 18, 2020 / 11:06 AM / AFP Puebla, Mexico — Scores of Mexicans … "There have been reports of individuals falling ill or blacking out after consuming unregulated alcohol.". The response makes no mention, however, of multiple incidents reported in various media outlets that Mexican officials had, in other raids, seized hundreds of gallons of alcohol allegedly tainted with methanol, a toxic form of alcohol that is used in fuel, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid and solvents. The New York Times is reporting “At Least 70 Dead in Mexico from Drinking Tainted Alcohol.” This is not the first time the country had reports of alcohol poisoning people, … Tainted Alcohol Kills in Mexico Read More » Abbey was found face-down in the shallow end of the pool, nearly drowned, and died days later after being airlifted to a hospital in Florida. The tainted alcohol was produced served in multiple bars, restaurants, and hotels in Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. | In one case, a man had to wait until the next day for assistance filing a police report, despite reporting he was drugged and sexually assaulted after drinking tainted alcohol. 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