alcohol

People are urged to exercise a high level of caution

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a new warning to winter holidaymakers regarding the severe dangers of contaminated alcohol abroad. In a social media alert published today (November 9) on X, the FCDO urged travellers to exercise extreme caution when purchasing or consuming alcoholic drinks while travelling.

The warning comes amid heightened international concern over toxic bootleg alcohol outbreaks in popular tourist destinations. It reads: “Have a holiday booked this winter? In some parts of the world, alcohol can be contaminated with methanol, which can cause serious illness or even death. Avoid homemade, ‘bootleg’ or streetside alcohol.”

According to the FCDO, alcohol in several parts of the world can be contaminated with methanol, which is a highly toxic form of alcohol normally used in industrial products. Even a small amount of methanol can cause permanent blindness, organ failure, or death.

The government body explicitly warned holidaymakers to strictly avoid homemade, “bootleg,” or streetside alcohol to protect themselves. The safety alert applies broadly across global holiday hotspots, but the FCDO currently flags dozens of countries under its “Know the Signs” safety awareness guidelines.

Travellers should be particularly vigilant in parts of South East Asia, including Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The risks are also highlighted in major holiday destinations across the Americas, such as Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil, as well as Turkey, India, and various nations across Africa.

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List of destinations where travellers are urged to be highly vigilant:

• South East Asia: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines
• The Americas: Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Papua New Guinea
• Europe and Central Asia: Turkey, Russia
• East Asia: Japan
• Africa: Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Malawi, Morocco, Libya, Rwanda
• South and Western Asia: India, Bangladesh, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal
• Oceania: Fiji

The risk of encountering poisoned drinks is highest in areas with weak regulatory oversight or where illegal manufacturing thrives. Illicit producers often deliberately use cheap industrial chemicals such as methanol to stretch their alcohol supplies and maximise profit margins.

Backpacker hubs, informal street markets, and remote beach towns are frequent locations for these incidents. Health experts note that counterfeit alcohol is frequently used in cheap local spirits, complimentary “free shots” at bars, and mass-produced versions of traditional national drinks.

To stay safe while travelling, the FCDO and travel clinics advise tourists to completely avoid open drink buckets, pre-made punches, and unbranded spirits. Travellers should never buy alcohol from street-side stalls or unlicensed vendors.

Instead, holidaymakers are advised to stick to branded beers, ciders, and wines. Where possible, always choose drinks served in sealed bottles or cans, opened directly in front of you, and only purchase alcohol from reputable, fully licensed establishments such as major hotels and established restaurants.

Real-life cases

Recent years have seen high-profile and tragic real-life cases of methanol-contaminated alcohol poisoning, particularly affecting international tourists in popular backpacking and holiday hubs. For example, in Vang Vieng, Laos, during November 2024, in a mass poisoning event that made global headlines, six young foreign tourists died after consuming what were believed to be free vodka shots at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.

The victims included 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White, two 19-year-old Australian teenagers (Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles), two Danish citizens, and an American tourist. Over a dozen others were severely sickened or hospitalised. Investigation teams later traced the source to an illegal factory outside the capital that was supplying local venues with bootleg spirits heavily laced with industrial methanol.

In Fiji, during December 2024, seven foreign tourists, including Australian and American nationals, had to be rushed to the hospital with acute neurological symptoms, nausea, and vomiting after drinking contaminated cocktails at a luxury five-star resort along Fiji’s Coral Coast.

What are the signs to look out for?

Methanol poisoning is a life-threatening medical emergency that typically manifests 12 to 24 hours after consuming contaminated alcohol. Because the toxic chemical is indistinguishable by sight, taste, or smell from normal alcohol, it is impossible to detect in a glass.

While initial symptoms can mimic a standard, severe hangover with intense nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness, the condition quickly progresses to cause unique, critical warning signs. Most distinctively, victims experience profound visual disturbances, such as blurred vision, seeing flashes of light, or feeling like they are “in a snowstorm”, alongside severe abdominal pain, confusion, difficulty breathing, and potentially fatal seizures or organ failure.

If you or a travel companion experience any changes to your eyesight or breathing after drinking, you must seek emergency medical care immediately and explicitly inform hospital staff that you suspect methanol poisoning.

CORONATION Street star Will Mellor broke down in tears as he came clean on his alcohol and gambling battles.

Actor Will, who shot to fame as Jambo Bolton in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks in 1995, previously told how he turned to booze following his dad’s tragic death from cancer.

The soap star, who also lost sister Joanne to a heart attack in 2012, aged 44, bravely told the Happy Place podcast how he “slipped into a dark place” and “wasn’t a good person” after her passing.

Will, 50, said he “didn’t want to get out of bed” and he “hated himself” for turning to his demons.

He apologised to anchor Fearne Cotton as he wiped tears from his eyes and confessed: “I struggle with my emotions, they are on the surface all the time and when I talk about these things its because I care and I can’t help it”.

Will detailed the struggles that led to his harmful life choices and said: “I never thought I would find myself in that cloud and not see colour any more.

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“Because I couldn’t protect her [his late sister] any more, I couldn’t change it.

“And that’s what the killer is, because I always thought I could fix things, I will do anything to help people if I can – and I couldn’t help her”.

He added: “I just did the wrong thing drinking, gambling, trying to find a high in life, which sent me further down the hole.

“I hated myself for it.

“But I got through it, my wife got me through it”.

Will is married to dancer and dance school owner Michelle McSween.

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Will – who played drugs lord Harvey Gaskell in ITV soap Corrie – previously opened up on his poor mental health in the rough patch.

He said: “I had to stop feeling guilty about things, that I couldn’t do any more for my sister, you put things onto yourself – it was a vicious cycle and I had to get out of it. 

“When my dad passed I saw the signs and didn’t go that deep. Obviously lockdown didn’t help, when you don’t have to be up in the morning there’s no excuse not to have a few drinks. 

“You have a word with yourself, I was sick of feeling rubbish and now I feel great.”

The Two Pints star added: “My mindset is better. You can’t change a situation but you can change yourself, the repetition of what you’re doing and keep an eye out for those little triggers”.

As well as Hollyoaks and Corrie, Will has also appeared in EastEnders, Casualty, Broadchurch and – more recently – Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

More than a third of British holidaymakers have experienced ‘travel tummy’ in the past 12 months

More than a third of British holidaymakers (36%) have suffered from ‘travel tummy’ over the past year, new research has revealed. The term describes stomach upset or illness experienced while on holiday.

Safa noted the findings indicated that digestive problems were a widespread concern amongst travellers, often having a detrimental effect on overseas trips. The Saga Travel Insurance study, which surveyed 500 UK holidaymakers, discovered that half (49%) had endured diarrhoea while away, with nearly one in 10 (8%) battling gut troubles on every single trip.

Those with pre-existing conditions, such as IBS, may face a heightened risk of digestive complications when abroad, as travel can worsen symptoms. Local chemists are the first stop for most holidaymakers grappling with travel tummy overseas (35%), while almost a third (30%) resort to Google and one in 12 (8%) consult AI to assess their symptoms before seeking professional advice.

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Saga Travel Insurance consulted Dr Nick Burr, a gastroenterologist at healthcare provider LivingCare, to explore why travel tummy happens and what holidaymakers can do to prevent problems on future getaways.

Bacteria often the cause of travel tummy

Travellers’ diarrhoea is a frequent problem among holidaymakers, especially when heading to destinations where food hygiene standards differ.

Dr Burr said: “Traveller’s diarrhoea is usually caused by bacteria, most commonly E. coli, picked up from contaminated food or water, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central or South America. Symptoms can include loose stools, cramping, bloating and nausea, often within the first week of travel.”

Tap water standards differ significantly from one country to another. Numerous countries have updated plumbing infrastructure, which typically means tap water is safe for consumption.

In other nations, it may be wiser to opt for bottled water, as unsafe drinking water can harbour dangerous bacteria, parasites and chemicals.

According to the NHS, boiling water is the most dependable method to purify it and eliminate any bacteria or viruses. Chemical disinfectants, such as iodine or chlorine, can also be employed, but may prove less effective than thoroughly boiling water and allowing it to cool in a sterile container.

Water filters ranging from 0.2 to 1 micron can also be utilised to remove dirt or parasites from water before applying chemical disinfection.

Two-fifths of Brits reckon their symptoms were triggered by local food

Local cuisine emerged as one of the most frequently mentioned causes of travel tummy amongst holidaymakers in Saga Travel Insurance’s survey, with 44% of respondents blaming their holiday stomach troubles on this. Dr Burr explained: “Common sources [of infection] include untreated water, ice cubes, buffets, shellfish, undercooked meat and food left sitting in the heat. Exploring local food is one of the joys of travel and most people can do so safely as long as they apply common sense. For example, freshly cooked, piping hot food in a busy restaurant is usually OK.”

Dehydration poses one of the greatest threats to your wellbeing while travelling

Diarrhoea was the most frequently reported symptom of holiday tummy among UK travellers, with more than a quarter (28%) of individuals suffering from it while abroad over the past 12 months, according to Saga Travel Insurance’s survey. Loose and watery stools can lead to dehydration as your body is losing more fluids and electrolytes than you’re capable of replenishing.

Dr Burr said: “Dehydration [can be serious], especially in hot climates. Alcohol and caffeine can both worsen dehydration and have a laxative effect, so it’s best to limit these while symptoms are severe. Intense exercise while dehydrated or unwell may also slow recovery, so it’s usually best to rest, drink fluids, and stick to simple foods until symptoms improve.”

Rehydration solutions are an effective method to prevent dehydration and support recovery. If you’re unable to obtain rehydration sachets, Dr Burr points out that you can prepare your own from scratch.

He said: “If oral rehydration sachets are unavailable, a homemade solution can be made using six level teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt in one litre of clean water.”

Routine disruption

While bacteria and infection remain the most frequent culprits behind traveller’s diarrhoea and stomach complaints, there may be more environmental factors at play when holidaymakers feel under the weather.

Dr Burr explained: “[In other cases], symptoms are not due to infection, but are related to changes in routine. Prolonged disruption to normal routines, including sleep patterns, hydration, alcohol intake, stress and diet, can make the digestive system more sensitive, particularly in people prone to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional gut symptoms.”

The survey by Saga Travel Insurance revealed that a third of holidaymakers (34%) said travel-related stress played a part in their travel tummy, while over a quarter (27%) pointed to long journeys as a contributing factor.

Dr Burr said: “For those who experience an upset tummy when flying, this is often linked to cabin pressure changes, dehydration, reduced movement, disrupted sleep, stress and unfamiliar foods. Staying hydrated, moving around during flights and eating lighter meals can help reduce discomfort.”

Michelle Cooper, director of Saga Travel Insurance, added: “If you’re on a longer flight, try to walk up and down the aisle every two hours to help with your circulation and digestion.”

Travellers with pre-existing conditions could be at greater risk

‘Travel tummy’ can present heightened dangers for those with underlying health conditions.

Dr Burr said: “People with diabetes, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or weakened immune systems may become unwell more quickly.”

For individuals with pre-existing conditions, advance preparation is particularly crucial – not only regarding health matters, but also in making certain adequate travel insurance protection is arranged.

Michelle explained: “Many insurers offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions, however, it’s essential to declare them when taking out your policy. If you have an underlying health condition, becoming unwell abroad can be more serious and may require quicker access to medical care or more specialised treatment. Making sure you have the right cover in place means you can get the support you need without facing unexpected costs while you’re away.”

Most travel tummy is mild, but severe cases need treatment

While a dodgy stomach abroad might amount to little more than mild discomfort, it can occasionally prove more serious and necessitate a trip to a local doctor – or a call to your insurer’s 24-hour travel GP, if it provides one.

Michelle said: “Getting sick abroad is never ideal and you may be tempted to wait until you’ve returned to the UK to get checked by your doctor. However, it’s important that you seek out medical attention as soon as possible if you think you might be ill.

“Treatment costs abroad can add up quickly, particularly in countries where healthcare is private. Call your insurance provider’s 24-hour emergency number to check if they cover everything you need, including medical translation services. Travel insurance can help provide both financial protection and peace of mind if the unexpected happens.

“Having the right cover in place means you can get the care you need without worrying about the cost, so you can focus on recovering and enjoying the rest of your trip with confidence. Taking simple precautions before and during your trip could be the difference between a disrupted holiday and a smooth, stress-free getaway.”

Should you fall ill while overseas, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office holds a comprehensive list of English-speaking doctors, medical facilities and practitioners across the globe. In an emergency situation, don’t hesitate to contact the local emergency services in the country you’re visiting.