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By My Yen La

Daily Bruin Contributor

The U.S. Department of State recently released two advisories cautioning spring break travelers on the risks of drug and alcohol abuse and “disorderly behavior” in a foreign country.

“We try to do it every year around the time of spring break,” said Karolina Walkin, a spokeswoman for the Department of State. “The problems arise over and over again through the years.”

The fact sheets state that U.S. citizens will not have immunity from prosecution abroad, something that many people assume they have, according to Walkin.

“When you travel to another culture, you’re in this party mood,” Walkin said. “A lot of Americans don’t take the time to inform themselves. Their travel arrangements are often made for them.”

Not knowing the customs and standards in a foreign country could pose serious consequences, the releases note.

They also warn that an arrest or accident could result in a difficult or medical condition.

The releases further explain that alcohol and drug use or abuse could result in, and increase the risk of, rape, injury, death and jail time.

For first-year art student Madeline Dewey, who will be traveling to Mexico during spring break, the warnings do not seem frightening. Rather, she said it was knowing other people who have been arrested in Mexico that has made her more conscious of the risks in a foreign country.

“I don’t think warnings will have much effect on me,” Dewey said. “Hearing it from other people scares me.”

Each year, about half of the more than 2,500 U.S. citizens arrested abroad are detained for narcotics charges.

In Cancun, a vacation hot spot that each year sees more than 100,000 American teenagers and young adults during spring break, drug possession, importation, purchase and use can result in imprisonment without bail for up to a year.

Mexico, a popular spring break getaway, is expecting an increase in tourists this year.

More police officers will be deployed during the break, according to Gabriel Huerta, an office administrator for the Mexican Tourism Board in California.

He said said in general there have been more arrests in Mexico as the number of tourists increase.

Different offenses bring about different consequences, according to Huerta. One may receive a warning, be fined or go to jailed.

For example, if a person is caught drinking on the street, they would generally be asked to go back to their hotel room peacefully.

Confronting officers may result in jail time in a place that is, as Huerta said, “not very comfortable.”

More serious offenses include drug possession.

“You will need a lawyer for that,” Huerta said.

Drug possession and use is one of the worst offenses a person can commit in Mexico. The police strictly deal with those who do not follow the laws that they are informed of upon entering the country, according to Arthur Carey, the reservation manager of the Web site Mexico Spring Break.

Carey added that a misconception some people have is that the police can be bribed.

“You can’t always give them a buck,” Carey said. “If you do and get away with it, you’re extremely lucky.”

He said although police officers do make money on the side, they are less likely to yield to bribes.

According to Aeron Wilson, the supervisor of Student Travel Association, students traveling to Mexico get in trouble when they do not pay attention to what they do – with mixed consequences.

“I think what really gets students in trouble is when they drink too much or yell too loud,” Wilson said. “You just have to keep it under control.”

Incidents ranging from falling off balconies to overnight jail detention have occurred.

She further noted that although there are many people drinking and the situation is hard to control, the police do fine people and enforce Mexican law.

“They like to scare (violators),” Wilson said. “They will throw you in jail.”

STUDENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

Original by ADAM BROWN/Daily Bruin Web adaptation by CHRISTINE TAN/Daily Bruin