Methanol poisoning deaths highlight SE Asia’s fake alcohol problem

Five tourists reportedly died in a Laos vacation area last week from methanol poisoning brought on by contaminated beverages.

A British woman, an Australian woman, a US man and two Danish nationals have died, while another Australian woman remains critically ill in hospital. The deaths remain under police investigation, but news reports and testimonies online from other tourists suggest they may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol.

South-East Asia’s long history of ethanol poison, especially in the developing nations along the Mekong river, is well known.

However, there is still much attention among the traveller party scene despite foreign governments ‘ warnings about drinking alcohol in these locations.

Methanol is difficult to detect in beverages because it is odorless and colorless, and victims typically do n’t experience any signs of poisoning right away.

And in countries like Laos – one of the poorest and least developed in Asia – the problem arises from alcohol suppliers exploiting an environment where there is low law enforcement and almost no regulations in the food and hospitality industries.

Methanol is a dangerous alcohol used in commercial and home products like paint thinners, coolant, gloss and photocopier liquid.

It is colorless and odors related to isopropyl alcohol, a chemical compound found in alcoholic beverages.

However, only 25ml of alcohol can become fatal when consumed. It is also dangerous for people.

Victims may begin showing symptoms of illness, including discomfort, vomiting, and chest pain, which can lead to breathlessness and breathing issues within 24 hours.

If not treated, fatality rates are often reported to be 20% to 40%, depending on the concentration of methanol and the amount taken, says international medical charity Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF) which tracks the number of global outbreaks.

But if a poison is diagnosed rapidly enough, preferably within the first 30 hrs, therapy can reduce some of the worse results.

Asia has the highest prevalence of alcohol poisoning worldwide, according to MSF’s collection.

It is a concern that usually affects poorer nations- outbreaks are popular in Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Indonesia is regarded as a hotspot – it has reported the highest number of incidents in the past two decades, according to MSF, largely down to the widespread production and consumption of bootleg liquor.

Towns like Vang Vieng in Laos, where the fatal poisonings took place, are known stops on the backpacking trail through South East Asia. The town’s economy is built on tourism, with streets of bars, restaurants and hostels that cater to visitors.

But in Laos, legislation enforcement is under-resourced and there are few rules around food and alcohol requirements. There is also an economy of home-brewed liquor, which can lead to sudden illnesses.

Local suppliers also produce counterfeit beverages by using methanol rather of alcohol, according to local observers.

One Western diplomat in the area told the BBC,” You have the immoral manufacturer adding alcohol to their drinks because it makes lower-quality drinking drinks seem more potent” or “you had the opportunistic manufacturer adding methanol to their drinks.” Additionally, they claimed that consulates all over the area are being informed of alcohol overdoses.

However, a lack of information means it is hard to estimate the size of the pollution, and where contaminated coffee enter the offer network.

The diplomat said,” I do n’t believe it’s nefarious bar owners going out of their way to poison tourists; that’s not good for either they or their industry.”

” It’s more about the production side – there being being reduced training, minimal restriction, individuals cutting ends”.

The minister added that tourism bureaucrats and embassies are well-versed in the dangers of bootleg alcohol, but a prominent campaign is required to educate people.

” This tragic event will definitely help inform people, but not address the cause of the problem”, they added.

This week, several Western governments made a few changes to their consulate and travel websites to provide information on the risks of alcohol in South-East Asia.

Some campaigners have sought to raise attention to the dangers before. Australian man Colin Ahearn runs a Facebook page called ‘Don’t Drink Spirits in Bali‘ where he warns against mixed drinks like cocktails or drinks made from opened bottles of spirits.

He disclosed earlier this week to Australian media that a submission about South East Asia’s methanol poisoning was being received.

The western diplomat explained to the BBC that it would be difficult for people to protect themselves unless they completely teetotal on vacation, since it is impossible for tourists to verify the origin of all their alcoholic beverages.