A growing list of countries have warned of the potentially fatal consequences of drinking tainted alcohol in the Southeast Asian country, Laos, after at least six tourists were confirmed dead.
Landlocked Laos is one of southeast Asia’s poorest nations and a popular tourist destination.
News reports and testimonies suggest the tourists may have consumed alcohol laced with methanol – a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol.
Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol but can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled home-brew liquor and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently.
It has also been used in the manufacture of counterfeit replicas of well-known alcohol brands or illegal local spirits, like vodka.
Australian and British Die in Laos
Australian teenager Holly Bowles became the sixth foreign tourist to die from the suspected methanol poisoning in Laos.
The 19-year-old died more than a week after falling ill in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, her family confirmed to Australian media.
In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “All Australians will be heartbroken by the tragic passing of Holly Bowles. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and friends.”
British lawyer Simone White became the fifth tourist to have died in a suspected mass poisoning in Laos, south-east Asia.
The UK’s Foreign Office confirmed the 28-year-old’s death on Thursday, saying: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”
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The confirmation came after Australian authorities confirmed the death of Bianca Jones, 19, who had been on life support in critical condition for several days in neighboring Thailand after being evacuated from Laos following a night out.
“This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament.
“Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss.”
Hours earlier, the US State Department told the media that an American man died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Danish authorities also confirmed that two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, died last week in Laos.
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Other Tourists Hospitalized
New Zealand’s foreign ministry told the media on Thursday November 21 that one of its citizens was also unwell from suspected methanol poisoning.
At the same time, Netherlands’ foreign affairs ministry said that a Dutch tourist was sent to the hospital but was in stable condition. It is however, unclear how many others have fallen ill.
A police investigation is ongoing into the poisoning, which is believed to have happened sometime between the evening of Tuesday, November 12, and the early hours of the next day.
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Countries Issue Advisory
The US state department on Friday, November 22, issued a health alert for citizens travelling to Laos, warning of “suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks,” after similar alerts from other countries whose citizens were involved.
Australian, New Zealand and UK authorities have also each warned their citizens to be careful of methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.
“Several foreign nationals, including Australians, have been victims in November 2024 of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks. Be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails. For further advice on the risks around methanol poisoning as well as drink spiking, see ‘Safety’,” Australia Authority warned its nationals.
The UK asked its citizens to take care if offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks.
“If labels, smell or taste seem wrong then do not drink,” it said.
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