We’re not as think as you drunk we are
Although the Mexican press yesterday noted that Latin American is the second heaviest drinking region in the world (after eastern Europe), the World Health Organization doesn’t show Mexicans and Central Americans as particularly heavily drinkers.
The Russians, to no one’s surprise, are the world’s heaviest drinkers, while in the western hemisphere, it’s the Canadians who consume the most alcohol (must be the long winters). While Mexicans — on average — are much lighter drinkers than people from the U.S. and Canada, and only moderate drinkers among the peoples of the Americas, when Mexicans drink, they are more likely to drink to excess than other North Americans.
Interestinly enough, although Guatemalans drink much less than Mexicans, when they do drink, they are much more likely to drink excessively.
The Mex Files 
I suspect we are looking at taxed alcohol in Latin America in the above numbers. The moonshine available and sold in Latin America equals that with a tax stamp, at least in the countryside.