In both the digital and physical marketplaces, responsible consumption begins with prevention. COFEPRIS warns that consuming adulterated alcohol poses a severe health risk, capable of causing everything from temporary blindness to irreversible organ damage. Protecting yourself requires becoming an informed consumer.

According to federal regulations, every consumer must verify four key elements before opening a bottle:

• The Official Hologram: It must feature the seal of either the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) or the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT). It should be clearly visible, crisp, and untampered with.
• NOM Labeling: The label must strictly comply with NOM-142, clearly displaying the brand, the alcohol by volume percentage (% Alc. Vol.), the batch/lot number, and the official NOM password (the producer’s four-digit identification number).
• Physical Inspection: When tilting or turning the bottle, the liquid must show perfect clarity. If it contains sediment, floating particles, or appears cloudy, the product has been compromised.
• The Packaging: Caps must be securely fixed with no signs of scraping, and the security collar must be intact.

Authorities urge the public to purchase these beverages exclusively from formal, established retailers and to destroy empty bottles to prevent them from being reused in the illicit market.