The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has updated its global travel advisory to include eight new countries — Nigeria, Kenya, Japan, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Russia and Uganda — warning of the growing risk of methanol poisoning from fake or tainted alcoholic drinks.
The latest update follows a series of serious illnesses and deaths among British travellers in several popular destinations, reportedly linked to the consumption of contaminated alcohol.
Previously, the warning list covered Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica and Fiji, after multiple high-profile incidents, including the deaths of six British tourists in Laos last year. The new additions reflect growing global concern over the production and sale of counterfeit alcohol that may contain deadly levels of methanol — a toxic industrial chemical.
A Deadly Chemical Hidden in Plain Sight
Methanol, commonly used in products such as antifreeze and windshield cleaner, is not meant for human consumption. However, unlicensed or corrupt brewers often add it to alcoholic drinks to increase quantity and cut costs. Even small amounts can cause blindness, coma, or death.
Experts say early symptoms of methanol poisoning can mimic regular alcohol intoxication — nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion — but within 12 to 48 hours, victims may experience blurred vision, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness.
Dr Christopher Morris of Newcastle University explained that methanol breaks down in the liver into toxic compounds such as formaldehyde and formic acid, which damage nerves and organs. “The brain and eyes are particularly vulnerable,” he said. “In many cases, blindness and death occur because the poison disrupts energy production in cells.”
Personal Tragedies Fuel Public Awareness
Families of British victims have joined campaigners in calling for stronger awareness and education. Among them is Amanda Dennis, whose relative Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer, was one of six backpackers who died in Laos after drinking bootleg spirits.
“All these young people died unnecessarily,” Dennis said. “Their deaths could have been avoided if awareness and education were better.”
Another survivor, 23-year-old Calum Macdonald, lost his sight after consuming contaminated alcohol abroad. “If I’d known about the risks, I’d still have my vision today,” he said.
Official Response and Advice to Travellers
The Foreign Office has launched a new awareness campaign alongside the updated travel guidance, urging Britons to take precautions when consuming alcohol overseas. Travellers are advised to:
- Buy only sealed drinks from licensed shops, bars, and hotels.
- Avoid homemade alcohol, cocktails served in buckets or jugs, and any drink offered for free.
- Check bottle seals and labels for poor print quality or misspellings.
- Seek medical help immediately if symptoms such as blurred vision, vomiting, or confusion appear.
Hamish Falconer, the UK minister responsible for consular affairs, stressed that methanol poisoning “can kill and is hard to detect early.” He added: “No family should endure the pain these campaigners have faced. Their determination has helped shape vital updates to our travel advice.”
How Methanol Poisoning Is Treated
Doctors warn that methanol poisoning is a medical emergency that requires immediate hospital treatment. Quick administration of ethanol or other antidotes can prevent methanol from breaking down into toxic compounds, while dialysis may be used to cleanse the blood.
Professor Alastair Hay, an environmental toxicologist at the University of Leeds, explained that ethanol “acts as a competitive inhibitor,” slowing the breakdown of methanol and allowing the body to expel it safely through the lungs and kidneys.
A Persistent Global Risk
According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the level of awareness about methanol poisoning varies widely between countries, often causing delays in diagnosis. Dr Knut Erik Hovda of MSF noted that the contamination of alcohol “mostly happens for profit reasons, as methanol is cheap and easily available.”
With the inclusion of Nigeria and several other destinations in the UK’s expanded warning list, officials hope travellers will take the risks seriously and remain vigilant. Even a few shots of contaminated liquor, they warn, could be fatal.
Key takeaway: Always buy alcohol from reputable, licensed establishments — and when in doubt, don’t drink it.