Woman's death at Mexican resort sparks probe into tainted alcohol

A tourist in Mexico who died from drinking reportedly tainted alcohol has sparked calls for an investigation into the quality of the country's liquor.

Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urging the State Department to seek information from the Mexican government about the woman's death and other alleged incidents in which people have become sick of incapacitated after drinking.

The woman in question was Abbey Connor, aged 20, who was holidaying with family at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort when she drowned after drinking with her brother at the lobby bar in January.

The senator's move comes just days after 37,854 litres of tainted alcohol were seized from Mexican resorts after authorities in the country discovered an illicit manufacturer was supplying tourist attractions in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The State Department last month warned tourists going to Mexico about reports of tainted or illicit alcohol causing drinkers to become sick or pass out.