While the new Quintana Roo liquor laws were supposed to go into effect February 10, 2019 (limiting the hours during which liquor can be sold/served), it has not been until July 2, 2019 that tourists have experienced the actualities of liquor restrictions at Cancun and Riviera Maya resorts.

While many all-inclusive resorts have already applied for or received an “extended sale permit” from the Mexican government, there are some resorts which may have missed the application deadline or who have chosen not to pay for an extension of liquor service hours, or have altered their hours of liquor service voluntarily despite the extended sale permit.  Guests of the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort in the Riviera Maya are reporting that some of the bars have different service hours.  Some of the pool bars are not serving liquor until 11 a.m. or noon (probably the biggest complaint so far), while others enjoy an early morning mimosa/bloody mary/other type of drink which is now much more difficult to obtain.

While this may seem like an insignificant detail to some, many people pay for their right to access food and drink at all hours of the day or night at all-inclusive resorts–a little self-indulgence during vacation is well-deserved and paid for in advance when booking these resorts.  With all the vacation choices which now exist, especially the plethora of all-inclusive resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, time will tell whether this was just a case of temporary insanity based on economic bottom lines or whether vacationers will continue to visit this and other popular resorts for reasons that have nothing to do with liquor service hours.

If you hear of other resorts which have limited their bar hours due to this new law, please let me know!