Methanol poisoning is on the rise. This is everything you need to know before your next holiday

Methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol, looks and tastes just like alcohol and usually has a similar effect in the short term - Anupam Nath / AP

The Foreign Office has added another 11 destinations to its list of countries where there is a risk of consuming methanol-tainted alcohol, warning travellers to be on their guard.

The issue of methanol poisoning was thrust into the spotlight last year, following the tragic deaths of six tourists – including a 28-year-old British woman – in Laos. They were suspected to have consumed methanol-tainted alcohol shots while staying at a hostel.

British lawyer Simone White died last year after suspected methanol poisoning in Laos - Squire Patton Boggs

Here is what you need to know about the risks of methanol-tainted alcohol and the current government guidance.

What exactly is methanol?

Methanol is a toxic industrial alcohol which is used in antifreeze and paint thinner. The poisonous compound occurs naturally when making alcohol, but manufacturers will have processes in place to reduce the concentration to levels that are safe for human consumption.

How does methanol poisoning happen?

Dangerous concentrations of methanol have been found in bootleg spirits produced by criminal gangs, in particular in south-east Asia. The substance is typically cheaper than ethanol, so the criminals will use it to cut their costs.

Travellers have been warned to avoid spirits, cocktails and shots served from jugs in tourist party towns - Matthew Micah Wright

How dangerous is methanol-tainted alcohol?

Pure methanol is extremely dangerous. Doctors estimate that 30 millilitres (not much more than a standard “shot” of spirits) can be enough to kill an adult human being.

While methanol-tainted alcohol should be avoided at all costs, the exact level of danger will depend on the concentration. In some cases, drinks have been found more than 60,000 times the safe legal limit.

The dangers are exacerbated by the fact that methanol looks and tastes just like alcohol, and usually has a similar effect in the short term. Problems only begin hours later as the body struggles to break down the offending compounds.

The early symptoms can resemble a severe hangover, but can eventually lead to seizures or blurry vision. In severe cases, victims have gone blind, fallen into a coma, or died.

What can you do about suspected methanol poisoning?

If someone has consumed methanol-tainted alcohol, it is vital that they receive urgent medical attention. The sooner this happens, the better the chances that doctors will be able to save the person.

The most effective treatment is to provide patients with an antidote (like ethanol) or fomepizole, a special drug to stop the methanol turning toxic within the body. The poisonous compounds can also be flushed out with dialysis.

Where has methanol-tainted alcohol been found?

Methanol poisoning has been linked to a number of deaths in several countries. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders estimates that hundreds of people are poisoned each year in south-east Asia alone.

The Foreign Office has raised the alarm about the risk of methanol poisoning in 28 different countries, including popular holiday destinations like Thailand and Turkey.

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Is it still safe to drink alcohol in those countries?

The Foreign Office says it believes there is a risk of tainted alcohol in those countries and that travellers should remain cautious. They are not telling people to avoid alcohol altogether.

In the cases where methanol-tainted alcohol has been found, it tends to be bootleg local spirits, which are then added to pre-mixed drinks like cocktails or jelly shots. The risk of being poisoned from sealed, manufactured alcohol – like bottles of beer – is considered much lower.

For that reason the Foreign Office is warning travellers to avoid spirits, cocktails or shots, particularly those served from buckets or jugs in touristy party towns.

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