Yucatán Dry Law Reduced to 18 Hours for Elections
Restaurants are praising state authorities for significantly reducing the enforcement period of the Yucatán dry law during Sunday’s judicial election.
Unlike previous elections, the alcohol sales prohibition will be in effect for only 18 hours—from midnight until 6 p.m. on Sunday—rather than the traditional two full days. This allows restaurants and bars to operate as usual on Saturday until 11:59 p.m.
“For the first time in Yucatán, and to the great relief of our industry, the dry law will be in effect for only a few hours on Sunday,” said Claudia González Góngora, president of Canirac Yucatán. “This allows for normal operations on Saturday, which is a significant relief for the restaurant economy.”
Slashing the Yucatán dry law also allows gathering spots like Hennessy’s Irish Pub to welcome patrons during Saturday’s UEFA Champions League broadcast.
“OK, we just had another change on ley seca and hopefully the final one,” pub owner Sean Hennessy posted on social media. “We can open all day Saturday until midnight, and then reopen Sunday at 6 p.m. So let the beer flow.”
Previous Yucatán dry law caused major losses
González Góngora said that the agreement published last Wednesday in the Official State Gazette represents a positive change from the previous two-day restriction that caused substantial economic damage.
“During the 2024 election process, the full implementation of the dry law led to millions in losses,” González explained. “In Yucatán alone, we estimate a direct impact of more than 35 million pesos in sales, plus between four and five million pesos in lost tips for waiters and industry workers.”
Canirac has advocated for more balanced measures, pointing to successful examples from other states during recent electoral processes. In 2024, regions including Baja California, San Miguel de Allende, State of Mexico, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, Mazatlán, Querétaro, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Quintana Roo, Los Cabos, León, and Jalisco implemented exceptions to the dry law, particularly for restaurants that sell alcohol with food.
A notable precedent occurred in Mexico City under former Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s administration, where restaurants were permitted to sell alcohol by the glass during the June 6, 2021 elections and the April 2022 recall referendum.
“These decisions demonstrated that it is possible to implement electoral controls without seriously affecting the formal economy of the restaurant sector,” González noted. “These experiences show us that legality can be maintained without paralyzing formal economic activity.”
Data supports controlled sales
González cited National Electoral Institute data to support the industry’s position. During the 2021 elections, only 0.56% of more than 6,600 reported incidents were alcohol-related, and none involved polling station officials.
“This shows that controlled sales do not pose a real risk to elections,” she stated.
Industry commits to compliance
While expressing gratitude to Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena and his team for their openness to dialogue, González emphasized the industry’s commitment to following regulations.
“We urge all establishments licensed to sell beverages to comply with established business hours,” she said. “This step toward more sensitive enforcement of the dry law will only be successful if we act responsibly and with commitment. This way, we can find a balance between respecting election day and maintaining the economic stability of our sector.”
Mexico dry law impact by the numbers
According to Canirac Nacional data, alcohol sales restrictions affected 16 states during the 2024 elections, resulting in a drop of up to 500 million pesos in sales nationwide. González emphasized that other states have demonstrated that a more balanced application of the measure is not only viable but beneficial for maintaining economic stability while respecting electoral processes.
Mexico can seem quick to shut down liquor sales at specific critical periods. Yucatán dry laws were enacted during the height of the pandemic, a measure meant to discourage socializing. But it forced people with alcohol dependence to make often fatal choices.
Lee Steele is the founding director of Mérida-based Roof Cat Media S de RL de CV and has published Yucatán Magazine and other titles since 2012. He was Hearst Connecticut’s Sunday Magazine creative director and worked in New York City for various magazine publishers, including Condé Nast and Primedia, for over 20 years.
