RIO DE JANEIRO - A 53-year-old American tourist was detained in Rio International Airport last week after leaving an unpaid R$14,488 ($7,000) tab unpaid in Porto Bay hotel, alongside this city's legendary Copacabana beach. Robert Scott Utley may become a legend himself, as nearly half of his hotel bill was spent on 400 caipirinhas – a daily average of 30 glasses of the sugary lime and cachaça cocktail. Hotel employees said Utley was usually accompanied by several women.

The hotel manager got suspicious and called the police when Utley requested a cab to the airport. He had a flight ticket scheduled for the next day.

Utley spent the night at the police station and left the next day. The American consulate in Rio did not say whether the bill was paid or whether he returned to the United States. The tourist insisted his credit card had been cloned — a common problem in Brazil — and therefore could not pay the bill. He also said he took an earlier flight because of heart problems that required urgent treatment.