A Word of Caution about Drinking in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

So you are ready to party! Just remember you cannot come to modern Juarez, Mexico thinking you are legal to run wild and howl at the moon. The days of Billy the Kid riding in and shooting up the town are long gone, yet, strictly from my own personal observations, the idea that Juarez is a place where “anything goes” appears to still be quite prevalent in our society, particularly among young single men.

If you are ready to party responsibly, the typical cost for a beer is only $1.50-$2.00. The people are friendly and curious about foreigners, and the music of Mexico is probably going to captivate you. Yet—as with anything involving alcohol— a few words of caution are definitely in order, particularly since you are in a foreign country and subject to its laws. Frankly, I am not recommending that drinking be your primary purpose for crossing the border. The serious problems visitors get into here always seem to involve alcohol. Yet since many of you will do so no matter what is published here, I’m offering a few things to keep in mind.

Each year, dozens of foreign visitors in Juarez, Mexico find themselves in delicate situations with the police because of drinking and driving or rowdy behavior. When I read between the lines of 99% of the “horror stories” people have told me about their experience in Cuidad Juarez I see a drunk visitor acting foolishly or thoughtlessly. Don’t be one of them. The Mexican authorities want you to come and have a good time, but any kind of gonzo attitude (which I have personally witnessed countless times) is going to probably land you in trouble.

Disruptions and altercations with other individuals in the bar may be dealt with in a more strict fashion than they would be in the United States—both by the people in the bar and by the police. Should a fight break out in a Juarez bar, it is not uncommon for the authorities to take all of the people involved to jail, close the bar for the night, and impose a large fine upon the owner of the bar before it can reopen. Hence, the Mexican bar owners, and nearly all of the customers, do not want to see any trouble to break out in the bar.

A few do’s and don’ts:

• Don’t get extremely drunk, thinking everybody does it here; they don’t— just the people who lack judgment. El centro, in particular, like many large cities in the U.S. and elsewhere, has a problem with people addicted to drugs, and you make a splendid target when you are visibly unsteady because of drinking.
• Don’t think it’s ok to simply drive across the bridge with no Mexican insurance. It’s rare to even be stopped by the Mexican authorities when crossing the bridge with U.S. plates, but should you get stopped, at the bridge or on the streets, you will be asked to show your Mexican insurance papers. Should you become involved in an accident without Mexican insurance papers, you are going to jail. (See the Driving in Juarez page for more information.)
• Don’t assume you can give the police officer $10 and walk or drive away from the problem. Under Presidente Fox, Mexico has made great strides in stemming police corruption. Besides, despite whatever you may have heard, Mexican police officers do take their responsibilities to guard the public safety seriously, and if that officer thinks you are a danger to yourself or to others my bet is that these days you are going to jail, no matter how money you have…
• Don’t assume something a Spanish speaking person says to you must be derogatory. Assume it was something friendly, because 9 1/2 out of 10 times it was something friendly. There is a common panic reaction when people are placed in surroundings where they cannot understand what other people are saying around them—a panic which can be exacerbated greatly when under the influence of alcohol and one which can obviously lead to problems.
• Don’t think of Mexico as your personal, private party palace where people will jump and say how high for a single dollar.
• Don’t put too much stock in the “safety in numbers” theory. I have lots of good friends I would never take into a Mexican bar. Make sure your companions are all the kind of people who do not enjoy showing off their smart mouths. It is not cool to be rude in Mexico, even when just kidding around. Mexican society, even in the bars, is more polite and formal than found in U.S. culture.
• Don’t confuse the attitudes of the panhandlers and street hustlers you will encounter in el centro with the attitudes of the average working person in the city—whether that person be your waiter or bartender or another person in the bar. Everyone is not out to take advantage of you. Attitudes show, and people often react to negative attitudes with negative behavior of their own—anywhere.
• Do come with the idea of being a good ambassador for the United States or wherever you call home, and you will be accepted. The Mexican people are some of the most accepting in the world of foreigners—whatever color of their skin or point of origin. Show respect, and you will receive respect. Show disrespect, and problems are sure to come your way…