The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a stark health warning for travellers planning trips to 28 specific countries in 2026. The alert concerns the serious and potentially fatal risk of methanol poisoning from adulterated alcohol.
Popular Destinations on the High-Risk List
The list of flagged nations includes several predicted travel hotspots for British holidaymakers next year. Among them are major destinations like Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan. Other countries noted for the risk include Brazil, India, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Peru, Turkey, and Russia.
Methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol, is sometimes illegally added to spirits and cocktails by unscrupulous vendors to reduce production costs. It is a tasteless and colourless substance, making it incredibly difficult for consumers to detect. Its early symptoms are dangerously similar to typical alcohol intoxication, which can lead to a fatal delay in seeking treatment.
How to Recognise and Avoid the Threat
Specialists from CounterSpike, a company focused on preventing drink spiking, have outlined critical precautionary steps for travellers. Their first and foremost advice is to only purchase alcohol from licensed, reputable venues. They recommend considering buying spirits from duty-free shops before departure if there are concerns about alcohol quality at the destination.
Travellers are strongly advised to avoid drinks from unlabelled or unsealed bottles, as well as large communal servings like those in buckets or jugs. Homemade or street-side alcohol presents a particularly high risk. Clear spirits are most commonly targeted for contamination due to the ease of counterfeiting, whereas sealed bottled beer is generally harder to tamper with and may be a safer choice.
While usually odourless, contaminated drinks can occasionally emit a faint smell reminiscent of paint thinner or nail varnish. Experts stress that any drink with such a scent should be avoided immediately.
Recognising the Symptoms of Methanol Poisoning
Initial signs, which can appear soon after consumption, include vomiting, dizziness, lack of coordination, confusion, and severe drowsiness—symptoms easily mistaken for severe drunkenness. The situation can become critical 12 to 48 hours later, with escalating symptoms such as acute abdominal pain, blurred vision or blindness, rapid breathing, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Methanol poisoning can cause irreversible health damage, including permanent blindness, and can be fatal within 48 hours if untreated.
The urgent medical advice is clear: seek immediate medical attention if you suspect methanol poisoning, even if symptoms initially seem like a bad hangover.
Alex Bodikian, Co-Founder of CounterSpike, commented: "Many of the destinations on the warning list remain hugely popular with British travellers. While these locations are clearly high on people's bucket lists, it's important to remember that they also carry certain risks. We urge anyone planning to visit any of the 28 countries currently on the warning list to proceed with caution."
The full list of countries flagged for methanol poisoning risk by the Foreign Office is: Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam.
Travellers can find more detailed information on methanol poisoning and comprehensive safety advice on the UK government's official Travel Aware website.
