Some Mysql db is using innoDB which implements foreign key contraints. If you can’t drop or alter a table, check that it doesnt have foreign key contraints. Well, innoDB can be an angel or devil…
In mysql command line, check existence of foreign keys

show create table demographic_type
CREATE TABLE `demographic_type` (
`id` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
`user_group_id` varchar(255) [...]