Normative ambiguity in the regulation of alcoholic beverages in Mexico
administrative discretion, legal certainty and judicial review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29105/dj6.9-204Keywords:
Administrative regulation, alcoholic beverage, normative ambiguity, admnistrative discretion, legal certaintyAbstract
The regulation of alcoholic beverages in Mexico exhibits significant normative ambiguity, especially in the categorical use of artisanal, traditional or cultural, and industrial beverages, without clear or consistent legal definitions. This conceptual indeterminacy generates legal uncertainty, expands administrative discretion, and may lead to disproportionate impacts on different types of producers. This article analyzes the issue from an administrative and constitutional law perspective, focusing on the principles of legality, legal certainty, and proportionality, as well as the role of judicial review in controlling administrative action. Based on the analysis of the applicable regulatory framework and relevant criteria from the Mexican Supreme Court, it concludes that normative ambiguity is a structural problem of regulatory quality that cannot be addressed solely through judicial control. Finally, it proposes regulatory improvement measures aimed at clarifying legal categories, rationalizing supervisory powers, and strengthening legal certainty in the alcoholic beverages sector.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Roberto Treviño Ramos, Amalia Guillén Gaytán, Christian David Garza Lomas
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