The Mexican resort of Cancun has long been known as a party city. There are dozens of bars, clubs and beach establishments here, and alcohol is sold literally at every turn. Travelers come here precisely for the feeling of freedom: a cocktail by the pool, beer on the beach, music until the morning and walks through the Hotel Zone to the sound of the sea.
But outside the hotel grounds, the rules in Cancun get much stricter. In recent years, the authorities have been actively strengthening control over public order, and at the same time — drinking alcohol and smoking in public places. The police actively play along with the tightening of rules, simply because they have the right. It actually detains visitors to countries for opening open bottles on the street, and fines for smoking or vaping can be an unpleasant surprise.
The main problem — a visual illusion of complete resort freedom. Especially for those who come to Mexico for the first time. At all inclusive hotels, staff deliver alcohol directly to the sun loungers. There is music playing on the beach, parties are held in the pools, and cocktails are often served in plastic “to go” glasses. One gets the feeling that this is allowed everywhere.
But in Mexico there is a very clear boundary between the private territory of the hotel and public space. While you are inside the resort, you are subject to the hotel's house rules. As soon as you step onto a street, sidewalk, parking lot, bus stop, or public beach, municipal and federal laws come into play.
A tourist leaves the bar with a cocktail in his hand and walks along the hotel area. Or a traveler is walking down the street or sitting in a park and drinking beer from a bottle. And a few minutes later he is stopped by the police. For many, this comes as a real shock.
Is it legal to drink alcohol on the street in Cancun? Short answer — No.
Drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited in Cancun. The following are prohibited:
- streets,
- sidewalks,
- public beaches,
- parks and squares,
- bus stops,
- parking,
- public transport.
Moreover, the violation is recorded very simply: an open bottle, a can of beer or a glass of alcohol is enough.
For the police, it does not matter how drunk a person is or whether he is drunk at all, whether he behaves calmly, whether he is a tourist or a local resident, whether he walks “only 200 meters to the hotel.” The very fact of open alcohol on the street is already considered an administrative violation.
But it is the guests of the powers who are most often detained. Cancun Hotel Zone — This is one of the most patrolled areas of the city. The authorities are well aware that this is where visitors, nightlife and alcohol are concentrated. In addition, it is the newcomers who most often do not know the local rules. And the police can detain you not only because they want money from you, but also because they have the right.
The police are especially closely monitoring the area near clubs, exits from bars, bus stops R-1 and R-2, entrances to beaches, areas near Coco Bongo and Party Center. After midnight the number of checks usually increases.
What happens after arrest? Many people think that the police will simply ask you to throw away the drink. But in Mexico, such violations are considered administrative offenses. Technically, this is not a criminal offense, but the police have the right to detain a person and take him to the municipal police station.
Maximum period of administrative detention — up to 36 hours. And this is not uncommon. Travelers do spend a night or even a day and a half in holding cells while awaiting a hearing before a municipal judge. Especially if the person argues with the police, is highly intoxicated, behaves aggressively, refuses to show papers, or is unable to pay the fine.
The amount of the fine depends on the situation and the municipality, but in travel areas the amounts can be quite sensitive, and are indeed several thousand pesos. That is why even an «innocent walk with beer» has the potential to unexpectedly turn into a very expensive evening.
Is drinking alcohol allowed on the beach? This is the most confusing issue for guest states.
Formally, most beaches in Mexico are public. But in reality, much of Cancun's coastline is served by hotels. Therefore, in practice, the situation looks like this: you can drink alcohol near sun loungers and hotel infrastructure, in public areas — it is forbidden.
The police are able to intervene selectively. It is in this regard that visitors often see some calmly drinking cocktails, while others are stopped by police literally a few tens of meters from the hotel beach. The main rule is simple: the further you are from the hotel premises, the higher the risk of having problems.
If alcohol restrictions surprise many, smoking bans are a real culture shock even for Americans and Europeans. In recent years, Mexico has passed some of the toughest anti-tobacco laws in the world.
Today, restrictions on use in public places include:
- cigarettes,
- electronic cigarettes,
- vapes,
- IQOS and similar devices.
In Cancun, smoking is prohibited in almost all public places. In practice, smoking is only possible in specially designated smoking areas, completely open spaces, and in specially permitted areas of hotels. That is why many resorts have separate smoking areas with signs.
Separate topic — electronic cigarettes. In Mexico, restrictions on vaping are very strict. The import and sale of many devices is officially prohibited or restricted, and use in public places is subject to the same rules as regular smoking. Many guests of the country mistakenly believe that an electronic cigarette “does not count.” In practice, the police usually do not discriminate.
There are actual fines for smoking in public places. Especially when visiting government areas and on public beaches. If you refuse to cooperate with the police (pay a fine), the situation may end in the same administrative detention for up to 36 hours.
However, much depends on the specific situation, human behavior and area of the city. In some places travelers are treated more leniently, while in others the rules are applied as formally as possible.
How to avoid problems? In practice the rules are quite simple:
- do not walk on the streets with open alcohol,
- do not take drinks out of bars and clubs,
- do not drink in public places,
- Smoking only in specially permitted areas or at a distance from public places,
- do not use vapes on the street or beach,
- Always have a copy of the document with you.
For most visitors to the country, Cancun remains a safe and comfortable resort, but less and less one of those places where the police turn a blind eye to any entertainment.
It will be useful to read our publications aboutsmokingin Mexico and about behavior inbeaches.