Alcohol sale ban ends June 1, but Vila Dosal looks for a way to avoid a stampede
(Updated to clarify a start date for alcohol sales.)
Yucatan Gov. Mauricio Vila Dosal told a national television journalist that he intends to resume alcohol sales June 1, ending a “ley seca” that began April 10.
But when the dry law ends, how are stampedes toward the liquor stores to be avoided?
To avoid a frenzied rush, Vila Dosal suggested easing into alcohol sales by first allowing only home delivery. It was not clear if he meant only beer, or if the concept also included wine and liquor sales.
That would avoid not only crowds in stores, but the possible coronavirus infections that come with them.
The idea was brought up during a TV interview with Merida-born anchorman Carlos Loret de Mola, when they discussed Yucatan’s alcohol ban, which expires at the end of May.
“We are talking, especially, with the cerveceros to see if the first week we do a scheme of only home-service sales, because we have seen the large crowds of people (in other states),” said the governor.
Vila Dosal gave as an example the case of Sinaloa, where when the dry law was lifted “we saw lines of 100, 200 people.”
Cornershop and Rappi are two apps that deliver groceries to homes in certain areas in Yucatan.
The prohibition was meant to quell alcohol-fueled domestic violence during quarantine conditions, but many people have resorted to bootleg swill, often to disastrous results. At least 18 people have died from ingesting adulterated alcohol, the most recent mixing hand gel and cola.