BajaNomad

Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali, Rosarito Beach to sell alcohol during election day

BajaNews - 7-1-2006 at 12:32 PM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20060701-9...

July 1, 2006

TIJUANA ? Bars and restaurants across Baja California will sell alcohol this weekend, ending the traditional federal election day ban on liquor.

All five of the state's municipalities agreed to lift the ban following a reform to Mexico's federal electoral law approved earlier this year.

In Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali and Rosarito Beach, the ban is completely lifted.

Only Ensenada is maintaining a partial ban until 6 p.m. Sunday. Bars and restaurants will be allowed to offer liquor, but sales of bottles will be banned in supermarkets and liquor stores until polls close in the presidential election.

Mexico's alcohol ban dates back to Gen. Plutarco Elias Calles, then the governor of Sonora, who forbade the sale of alcohol in 1915 during a period of political crisis in the country.

Baja California lifted the alcohol ban in state-run elections several years ago. Mexico's Chamber of Deputies in February instituted reforms that cleared the way for local governments to decide whether to lift the ban.