World NewsLatin America and Caribbean

Actions

America's Beer-Drinking Habit Is Making This Mexican Town Thirsty

Zaragoza's mayor says a nearby brewery is causing water shortages in his community.
Posted

Water shortages in Mexico aren't uncommon. But a water shortage in Mexico caused by our affinity for Mexican beer? That's a different story. 

The mayor of Zaragoza — a municipality located near the Texas-Mexico border — says his area faces water shortages caused by production at a nearby brewery.

New York-based firm Constellation Brands owns that brewery located in Nava, Mexico. It draws on water from deep wells in northern Mexico to make beers like Corona and Modelo.

Those beers are particularly popular among American drinkers. The Wall Street Journal reports Corona is the fifth best-selling beer in the country. 

Americans' taste for the brew grew so quickly that Constellation Brands announced plans to more than double the size of its production center — a move some say will threaten water supplies even more.

SEE MORE: "Researchers Found A Really, Really Old Beer Recipe In China"

Zaragoza's mayor told The Guardian: "We're worried because we're already being impacted. … The government gave them this land and these wells on a silver platter."

The same year Constellation Brands bought the plant in Nava, it published a water policy. Under the policy, the company says it strives to "maintain water source availability and quality" and engage in "transparency and reporting."

This video includes clips from Corona Extra and System Logistics and images from Getty Images.