Restaurants ask alcohol-ban exemption

Restaurant industry leader Álvaro Mimenza Aguiar is asking for a partial exemption from election-day laws. Photo: Canirac.
Restaurant industry leader Álvaro Mimenza Aguiar is asking for a partial exemption from election-day laws. Photo: Canirac.

Mérida, Yucatán — The president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant Industry (Canirac) in Yucatán, Álvaro Mimenza Aguiar, asked the governor to join other tourist cities in the nation and lift the Saturday ban on alcohol that is part of national election-day laws.

The request applies to five municipalities that rely on a tourist economy: Mérida, Progreso, Valladolid, Izamal and Tizimín.

Midterm elections are Sunday, and a nationwide ban on selling and serving alcohol not only on Election Day, but 24 hours before, means eateries take a huge financial hit. The request applies only to Saturday, not the day polls are open.

He argued that of the total alcohol sold in Yucatán, between five and seven percent is purchased in restaurants. Mass consumption comes from sales in supermarkets and liquor stores, “not with us,” he said.

Dry laws also dampen the fun for tourists who have no involvement with Sunday’s voting.

Moreover, the election coincides with major sporting events this weekend would potentially bring fans to sports bars or restaurants with big-screen TVs.

In other tourist zones, such as Cancún, restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol if it’s along with food. Baja doesn’t enforce the prohibition at all.

On Sunday, Mexican voters will decide 500 seats in Congress; nine governorships and 1,532 local contests, including Mérida’s next mayor.

Source: Sipse

 

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