🔗 Share this article

British authorities has included an additional eleven further destinations to its travel advisory roster about the threats of methanol contamination from contaminated alcoholic drinks.

The revised advisory features Bangladesh, India, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Rwanda due to evidence showing "a worldwide rise in the frequency of documented incidents" of toxic alcohol toxicity.

Just a few weeks ago, the government had earlier added Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, and Uganda to the existing register, after multiple serious incidents such as the tragic demise of six visitors in Laos in 2024.

Travellers are being cautions that as little as minimal doses of methanol can lead to blindness or death within 12–48 hrs.

What is Methanol and In what way is it Employed?

Methanol is a harmful industrial alcohol often employed in coolant, car cleaning liquid, and paint thinner. This chemical is not designed for drinking.

While it is generated during the creation of spirits, commercial firms reduce it to non-dangerous concentrations for ingestion through the refining procedure.

But in certain nations, it is surreptitiously added into alcoholic drinks to cut costs, and because it is tasteless and scentless, it is extremely challenging to detect.

Government Advice for Tourists

Foreign Office representative the minister said that each tourist should know the signs of methanol poisoning.

"If you're drinking spirits abroad, stick to trusted places and steer clear of local brews or unspecified beverages," the official said.

"If something seems unusual, such as a hangover that's way worse than usual or blurred eyesight – contact a doctor fast."

The entire list of nations listed as posing a risk of toxic alcohol toxicity now includes: Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam.

Important Details Concerning Industrial Alcohol Toxicity

• Industrial alcohol is a toxic compound not intended for drinking.
• As little as minimal doses can lead to permanent eye damage or fatality.
• Symptoms may include intense headache, sickness, abdominal pain, vertigo, and sight issues.
• Travelers are urged to exclusively have properly packaged drinks from trusted establishments.
• Should you believe industrial alcohol poisoning, contact a doctor right away.