Six tourists from various countries who visited the Asian city of Laos have died from methanol poisoning. The poison was found in one brand of alcoholic beverages served at the hostel. The employee was detained and the following actions were taken regarding this matter, among others: Australia.
The victims include two 19-year-old Australian women, a 20- and 21-year-old Danish woman, a 57-year-old American woman, and a 28-year-old British woman. Whiskey from one of the brands (“Tiger” in Polish) served in Vang Vieng, Laos. All of these tourists were suspected of fatal methanol poisoning.
Some of the dead were served alcoholic beverages at Nana Backpacker Hostel. Earlier in the week, authorities detained an employee of an accommodation center. State media reported information about the tragedy with considerable delay.
See also: Tourist paradise raises prices. Travel costs will also be higher.
In response, Laotian authorities issued a statement that did not include information on the effects of consuming contaminated alcohol. However, it introduced a ban on the sale of questionable products.
Laos. Methanol instead of ethanol. It's a very dangerous poison
The Australian government also spoke out, warning people in Southeast Asian countries not to buy such drinks because they “pose a health risk”. “Please be aware of the potential dangers, especially when it comes to spirits, including cocktails,” government information says.
The popularity of the drink, which turns out to be dangerous to drink, is mainly due to its relatively cheap price. According to CNN, the product's label says it's “distilled, blended, and bottled in Laos.”
Ingesting methanol is extremely dangerous. It can cause severe food poisoning and blindness. Just 30 milliliters is enough to cause death. Toxic symptoms can occur even 96 hours after drinking alcohol.
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