Relatives of tourists who have died after drinking contaminated alcohol have launched a campaign to warn those heading on holiday this summer.
The grieving Britons issued the warning amid fears poisonings could kill more with drinks being spiked with methanol.
The “Know the Signs” campaign comes as there are now 29 destinations, including tourist hotspots such as Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam, which carry methanol poisoning warnings on UK Government travel advice.
Travellers are advised to take particular care with spirit-based drinks, especially those served ‘on the rocks’, as shots, cocktails, or in buckets and jugs. Alternatives could include branded beers, ciders, wines and premixed cocktails sold in sealed bottles or cans. Although it doesn’t completely remove the risk, travellers should stick to licensed stores, bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels, and avoid homemade, bootleg or street-sold alcohol.
The countries with warnings issued are: Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam.
Kirsty McKie, 38, and originally from Stockport, died from methanol poisoning in Bali after drinking methanol-contaminated alcohol in July 2022.
Her mother Margaret said people should not think, like Kirsty, that methanol poisoning can be dismissed like “it’s a hangover, and I’ll just curl up in bed and go to sleep”.
Methanol poisoning “gets worse” she said, adding: “If you notice that one of your friends is much drunker than you would expect them to be, or they’re experiencing vision problems or breathlessness, it’s really important they get to hospital fast. You could save a life.”
Symptoms of methanol poisoning
Nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion are some warning signs of methanol poisoning, along with vision problems and breathlessness that can strike between 12 and 48 hours after consumption. Urgent medical attention should be sought.
Spotting methanol poisoning can be difficult because at first it can affect you in the same ways as ‘real’ alcohol. Signs to watch for:
- Early signs: vomiting, poor judgement, loss of balance and drowsiness.
- 12-48 hours after drinking: abdominal pain, vertigo, hyperventilation, breathlessness, blurred vision and/or blindness, coma and convulsions. If you or someone you are travelling with have any of these symptoms seek urgent medical attention.
- Vision issues are a red flag and can also appear 12-48 hours after the first drink. Methanol poisoning can cause blurry vision, trouble looking at bright lights, and in some cases complete blindness. “Snowfield vision” (seeing snowy static like an old TV) or tunnel vision can also occur. If you have any of these symptoms, seek urgent medical help.
The relatives and friends urged travellers not to dismiss methanol poisoning as just a hangover as timing is critical.
Avoiding free cocktails or shots or drinking from unlabelled bottles and not buying unusually cheap or heavily-discounted drinks that claim to be brand-name alcohol may also cut down on the risks.
Travellers should be particularly wary of spirit-based drinks, especially those served “on the rocks”, as shots, cocktails, or in buckets and jugs.
Opting for drinks including branded beers, ciders, wines and premixed cocktails sold in sealed bottles or cans may be a better choice.
Sticking to licensed stores, bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels and avoiding homemade, bootleg or street-sold alcohol could also help cut back on potential risks.
Simone White, 28, died after drinking free shots at a hostel bar in Laos, south-east Asia in November 2024 with her friend Bethany Clarke, who was also admitted to hospital with methanol poisoning but survived.
Ms White’s friend Hannah-Mei Grisley said: “The next morning, they (Simone and Bethany) woke up and thought they had a really bad hangover. Simone vomited, Bethany fainted, and that’s when they knew something was seriously wrong.
“That’s why it’s so important that people know how to reduce the risk when drinking alcohol overseas and seek urgent help as soon as something doesn’t feel right.”
Essex backpacker Cheznye Emmons, 23, died in 2013 after buying a bottle labelled “gin” from a shop in northern Sumatra which had been mixed with methanol.
Her sister Measha Emmons said it is “so important that travellers understand the risks” because “what happened to Cheznye could happen to anyone”.
She said: “One of the most dangerous things about methanol poisoning is that there is no reliable way to tell whether alcohol has been contaminated, and symptoms can take 12 to 24 hours to appear. But timing is critical.
“About four or five hours after drinking, Cheznye began to feel unwell. A few hours later, she woke up saying she couldn’t see. By then, it was too late.”
In another example The Brazil Health Ministry said in October that it had confirmed 11 cases tied to alcoholic beverages and was investigating 116 suspected cases. One death was confirmed through lab tests in Sao Paulo, with eleven others under investigation.
Minister Hamish Falconer stated that “methanol poisoning can have devastating – and sometimes fatal – consequences”, and praised the relatives and survivors who are trying to raise awareness.
He added: “The courage of survivors and bereaved families in sharing their experiences will help raise awareness and could save lives.”
The Foreign Office urged Brits to check the latest travel advice for their destination before their departure and to act quickly if something does not feel right.
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