The Foreign Office has heightened its warning for British travellers heading to four popular Asian destinations following the deaths of six tourists. In a recent development, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has alerted visitors about the dangers of methanol poisoning in places like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
As reported by BirminghamLive, the latest travel advice for Thailand, issued by the FCDO, starkly warns holidaymakers: “Alcoholic drinks containing methanol have killed people and caused serious illness.
“There is a risk of methanol poisoning from home-brewed alcohol or counterfeit replicas of well-known alcohol brands. Affected drinks may include local spirits, including rice wine, spirit-based mixed drinks such as cocktails and counterfeit brand-name spirits.”
This alert follows the deaths of two Danes, an American, a Briton, and two Australians in Vang Vieng in Laos, who fell ill after a night out. The deaths were suspected to be caused by methanol – a toxic, flavourless and colourless substance commonly added to bootleg alcohol.
Subsequently, eight staff members from the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Laos have been detained over suspicions tied to these methanol poisoning fatalities. Meanwhile, an Australian who also fell ill is currently reported to be stable.
The Laos government has promised “to bring the perpetrators to justice” and expressed “sincere sympathy and deepest condolences” to the families of those who died in a statement on Saturday, its first acknowledgement of the deaths. In its warning, the FCDO also advised to protect yourself from methanol poisoning.
You should:
- Buy alcoholic drinks only from licensed liquor stores, bars, clubs, restaurants, and hotels
- Check bottle seals are intact
- If the label, smell or taste seems wrong, do not drink the alcohol
- Check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling
- Avoid home-made alcoholic drinks
“Seek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with show signs of methanol poisoning,” it added.
According to Travel Health Pro, symptoms of methanol poisoning can be similar to those of alcohol poisoning and may include:
- Drowsiness or fatigue (feeling very tired)
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Abdominal and muscle pain
- Vomiting
- Changes in vision, including not being able to see, blurred vision or difficulty looking at bright lights