Cinco De Mayo Mayhem: Latino Youth Council Attempts To Take Alcohol Out Of Cinco De Mayo Ads
30 April 2009, 12:41 PM. By Alex Alvarez
The Latino Youth Council, a 12 member group based in City Heights, San Diego, are trying to persuade advertisers to refrain from tying alcohol into Cinco de Mayo celebrations. But how will we celebrate the Mexican Army’s defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla if not by imbibing Dos XX and tequila shots until we find frat boys moderately attractive?! HOW?!
The council’s members, who range from age 13 to 19, believe that the real message of the holiday is obscured by all this emphasis on alcohol. Ok. Sure. But we’d argue that Cinco de Mayo, which is basically a regional holiday in Puebla, isn’t so much about what happened on May 5, 1862 in a battle most Americans have never heard of, but more about giving Americans an excuse to get drunk while wearing a sombrero. It’s a drinking holiday. Is St. Patrick’s day, in the U.S, a celebration of an Irish Catholic saint, or an excuse to get drunk? (Hint: I don’t remember the last four St. Patrick’s days or why I ended up with 16 text messages addressed to Maureen O’Rourke.)
The council also believes that advertisers use alcohol in an attempt to appeal to minorities and young people. We’re not sure how true that is, seeing how most ads that we’ve noticed feature college-age white people. Then again, there are things like this:
If the National Association of Hispanic MBAs want to spend their Cinco de Mayo downing shots at a bar, who is to stop them? Is that the fault of advertisers?
We’re ok with Cinco de Mayo being a holiday devoted to drinking, just like we’re ok with Halloween being stripped of its origins to become a kid-friendly holiday revolving around the consumption of candy.
What do you think? Do advertisers target teens and Latinos in their Cinco de Mayo ads? Should Cinco de Mayo be devoted to the memory of the Battle of Puebla and celebrating authentic Mexican culture… or continue to be an excuse to partake in body shots?
Teens say Cinco de Mayo, alcohol don’t mix [Sign on San Diego]
(9) 
Post Your Comment
Did you know you can now share a link, image or video?
Click to submit your own notas.
Who appointed these killjoys arbiters of historical meaning?
They should have a drink (or several) and relax.
Yeah, it bugs me, that the historical significance of the day is forgotten, but what really, really gets up my nose is when I hear it called “Drinko de Mayo”, or “Cinco de Drinko”. ¡Huacala!
In my family, every birthday, anniversary or holiday turns into a reason to drink. Just like how lunchtime is enough of a reason for Guanabee to bust out the booze. So..advertising or not, you can’t stop the flow of booze at our house.
BODY SHOTS FTW!!
Also- I will be at the Flight of the Conchords concert on May 5 and I challenge anyone to stop that party from consuming adult beverages.
I thought Halloween was a now day for women to wear the sluttiest outfits they can find equipped with kitty ears, devil horns and/or feather dusters.
You say that like it’s a bad thing
Ha, no I generally support a trend towards more sexiness in our culture…however items such as these are a little disconcerting -
http://www.costumekingdom.com/p-7018-kids-costumes-lil-devilicious-toddler.aspx
http://www.costumekingdom.com/p-8380-sweetie-wicked-bride-child.aspx
http://www.costumekingdom.com/p-9641-kids-costumes-devil-grrrl.aspx
But re Cinco de Mayo - I say get WAYSted!!!
That’s messed up. “Sweetie Wicked Bride Child” ????