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Saturday, Jun 30, 2012 6:00 PM UTC

Mexico’s alcohol ban

La Ley Seca enforced during election weekend

By , GlobalPost

Topics: GlobalPost, Mexico, Latin America, elections, Alcohol,

Mexico's alcohol banSupporters of Enrique Pena Nieto, presidential candidate of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI, cheer during a campaign rally at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City June 24. (AP/Esteban Felix)
This article originally appeared on GlobalPost.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — American holiday makers planning to head south to Mexico for the weekend be warned: bring your own alcohol.
Global Post
La Ley Seca, or the dry law, will be in force from midnight tonight to midnight Sunday for the Mexican elections.

Nearly 80 million people are eligible to vote for the country’s president, mayors, governors and lawmakers, and the government wants them to be sober and compos mentis when they do it.

The law dates back to the Mexican revolution at the beginning of the 20th century and bans the sale of booze 24 hours before a major election and on the day of the vote, though some areas are now exempt from the restriction.

Elections will be held Sunday.

People across the country, including your correspondent, are stocking up today on tequila, beer and wine in preparation for the ban, which applies to bars, restaurants, supermarkets and liquor stores, according to Notimex.

Establishments caught breaking the law will be fined and their premises shuttered, according to the Federal District Commercial Establishments Law.

Some Mexicans — known for their twisted sense of humor — have joked that given the quality of the presidential candidates in this year’s election alcohol might be just the incentive they need to get them to the polling booth.

Twitter was buzzing with reminders to Mexicans to buy their grog today, lest they go thirsty this weekend.

One Internet user called Guillermo Baez joked that he was planning to vote in the popular tourist city of Mazatlan on the east coast where the law is not enforced.

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