Check if your holiday destination is affected after eight new countries were added to the Foreign Office’s methanol poisoning list following a wave of tragic deaths
The Foreign Office has added eight more countries to the methanol poisoning list as British tourists are warned of the deadly risks of fake alcohol abroad.
Ecuador, Kenya, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda, and Russia are now on the list of destinations where the UK government advises travellers take extra care – in addition to backpacker favourites Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. It follows an increase in cases of serious illness and deaths caused by alcoholic drinks tainted with methanol.
Among the most memorable is the hostel horror late last year which killed six tourists in Laos, including 28-year-old lawyer Simone White from Orpington, Kent. Now, a travel expert has offered her top tips to anyone heading to these destinations on how to stay safe and avoid illicit alcohol – as well as what you should do if you end up drinking it.
READ MORE: Parent’s urgent plea to anyone travelling to popular holiday hotspot after daughters dieREAD MORE: British tourist dies on dream holiday after horror poisoning while backpacking
What is methanol poisoning and how do I know if I’ve got it?
Methanol is a type of industrial alcohol that can be found in antifreeze and paint thinners. It is very harmful to humans, and drinking even small amounts can leave victims dead or permanently blinded within hours.
Early signs of methanol poisoning can include blurry vision and confusion. Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, explained: “Early symptoms can include vomiting and drowsiness but as poisoning worsens, it may lead to abdominal pain, vertigo, difficulty breathing, blurred vision and even blindness.”
In September 2025 alone, an estimated 821 people worldwide were affected by methanol poisoning”, with internet searches up 593% since the tragedy in Laos last year. Alicia adds: “Untreated methanol poisoning has a fatality rate of between 20% and 40%.3 Avoid alcohol if you’re unsure of its source or if it seems unusually cheap or homemade.”
How to stay safe
You can’t see or smell methanol if it’s in your drink, meaning it’s best to stick to sealed bottles in high risk areas. Alicia said: “Methanol looks and smells almost identical to regular alcohol, so it can be hard to detect.
“The safest approach is to only drink from sealed bottles, avoid free or unlabelled drinks and to never leave your drink unattended. Methanol poisoning tends to affect you faster and more severely than normal alcohol.
“If you experience any of the symptoms of methanol poisoning, or suspect you may have consumed it, you must seek immediate medical attention. Treatments can include antidote or dialysis, depending on how advanced the poisoning is.”
Know before you go – and take out travel insurance
Emergency treatment for methanol poisoning can leave you with hospital bills in the tens of thousands. You should always take out travel insurance when heading abroad, no matter where you’re going, or for how long.
You should also check the Foreign Office’s travel guide for your destination to ensure you are up to date with the latest information. Alicia explained: “Unfortunately, even when you take every possible precaution, emergencies can still happen when you’re abroad.
“Travel insurance can provide cover for emergency medical expenses and hospital treatments helping to protect you from financial and additional personal stress if the worst does happen.”
What has the Foreign Office said?
The Foreign Office announced the eight new countries last month after an impassioned campaign by families who have lost loved ones to methanol poisoning abroad. Hamish Falconer, minister responsible for Consular and Crisis, said: “Methanol poisoning can kill – it can be difficult to detect when drinking and early symptoms mirror ordinary alcohol poisoning.
“By the time travellers realise the danger, it can be too late. That’s why we’re working hard to raise awareness of the warning signs and urging anyone who suspects methanol poisoning to seek immediate medical attention. I encourage all travellers to check our travel advice and Travel Aware pages before they go on holiday.
“No family should endure what the campaigners’ families have suffered. Their determination to prevent others facing the same tragedy has been instrumental in driving forward these vital updates to our travel advice.”