In November 2024, the party town of Vang Vieng in central Laos witnessed the death of six tourists after they consumed methanol-spiked drinks on their vacation. The party hub of Laos, with its boozy tubing experiences and scenic views, attracts many youngsters. However, the death of half a dozen tourists sent shockwaves throughout the world, leading to deserted bars and pubs in the backpacking hub of Vang Vieng.
While this may seem like a one-off incident, it is not the first time that methanol-poisoned alcohol has posed serious risks to travellers worldwide. Last year, in June, a similar incident took place in Tamil Nadu, where 57 people lost their lives after consuming methanol-laced drinks. The Bihar hooch tragedy in October 2024 is another one in the growing list of such instances within the country. However, the impact of the growing numbers of such cases has hit most countries in South East Asia, severely impacting tourism in destinations that are otherwise a haven for backpackers, including Laos.
While the colourless and flavourless methanol is hard to spot, there are certain dos and don'ts that can make your journey safer.
Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used in industrial and household products. It is not fit for human consumption. It is usually mixed with alcohol as a cheaper option than its molecular cousin, ethanol. It is easy to ignore its presence with a similar smell and no colour. What you may be enjoying as an unharmful free drink during your holiday could actually be spurious alcohol.
While one may not notice any immediate symptoms, side effects like nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain start to kick in after 12-24 hours of ingestion. These effects could be followed by hyperventilation and difficulty in breathing, sometimes leading to coma and even death, as in the case of the six travellers in Laos.
Deaths due to methanol-laced bootleg alcohol are a recurring problem around the world. However, according to data released by Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF), Asia has the maximum prevalence of deaths caused by methanol poisoning. Among Asian countries, Indonesia is considered a hotspot with the highest number of cases in the last two decades. Developing Asian countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, and India seem to be the worst affected by the poisoning problem.
Going our bar-hopping and enjoying local liquor is definitely an exciting part of an experience. However, in light of recent incidents, caution should be exercised. Yangdup Lama, award-winning mixologist and entrepreneur, recommends choosing recognised spots and verified labels. "A pro tip for travellers would be to drink less but drink good quality alcohol."
Lama also asserts drinking alcohol sourced from legalised distilleries instead of home-based and illegal ones—“People with no experience and expertise in distillation usually end up selling spurious alcohol and we should stay miles away from that. Instead, stick to a highly recommended place and invest in a good brand as there is little or no chance of methanol presence in the alcohol that is sourced from a licensed distillery."
Therefore, when you make plans to venture out for the next, make sure to check with your server about the brand he's serving and only depend on trusted establishments to sort you out with a good drink.
