Everyone Has to be #1 at Something

If we have one major complaint about Queretaro, it's that there are no - and we mean no - good bars here. This pre-fab Irish pub a couple blocks from us is really about as good as it gets, and even they charge six bucks for a can - a can! - of Guinness.

And yet, just 20 miles away is the little town of Amealco, whose predominantly Indian population has just been crowned the Most Alcoholic in Mexico. Cirrhosis is the leading cause of death there, with a rate - also the highest in Mexico - more than double that of the general population.

[If, for some reason, you're using this site as a source for your sociology thesis, Mexico's drinking problem seems to escalate by thirds: of 100 million people, a third (32 million) drink; a third of those (13 million) are 'worrisome' drinkers; and a third of those (3 million)...well, they're probably foreigners with too much time on their hands.]

Salud!