Mexican-Americans worry that the Cinco de Mayo holiday has been translated in America as a day of heavy drinking, the Los Angeles Times reported May 6."I think it's become a commercial event that's totally devoid of its political meaning," said Guillermo Hernandez, the director of UCLA's Chicano Studies Research Center. "It's just another excuse to party."
In Mexico, May 5 marks the victory of Mexican troops over the invading French in 1862. "The most important thing is the fireworks," said Julio Estrada, who is originally from Puebla, Mexico, but now lives in California.
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become the leading Mexican holiday, even more popular than Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16.
"It's kind of tragic that Cinco de Mayo is becoming another St. Patrick's Day," said Albert Melena, chairman of Los Angeles County's branch of Latino Leadership United for Healthy Communities. "Look at the ads. What's funny now is they are using Spanglish: 'drinko de Cinco.' I'm not saying I'm a prohibitionist. If you want a drink, that's fine. I'm just saying, don't co-opt our holiday."
According to Melena, who works on addiction issues, studies of data from Los Angeles County show Latino males have higher rates of DUI arrests and cirrhosis of the liver than other population groups. "Alcohol is a factor in the top four means of death for Latinos: suicide, homicide, unintentional injuries, and car accidents," Melena said.
He said that Cinco de Mayo doesn't help. "We have to try to remember the true meaning, because every year that goes by, it gets worse and worse," Melena said.
Melina is part of a national movement, "Cinco de Mayo con Orgullo" (Cinco de Mayo with Pride) that promotes alcohol-free celebrations. This year, no-alcohol celebrations took place in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, as well as in several Texas cities and Chicago, Ill.
Beer purveyors in the U.S. and Mexico say they are being used as scapegoats. "I think there is nothing wrong with having a Mexican drink to celebrate the day," said Jose Pares, director of communications for Grupo Modelo in Mexico City, Mexico's largest brewer. "It is the individual's choice to drink, not ours."
Beth Davies, spokeswoman for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, added, "Cinco de Mayo, like St. Patrick's Day, is a day associated with going out with family and friends. We have actually noticed responsible consumption of spirits during this holiday."
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