The relatives of tourists who died after drinking contaminated alcohol have launched a campaign to warn holidaymakers about the dangers of methanol poisoning. The “Know the Signs” initiative comes as the UK Government’s travel advice now carries methanol poisoning warnings for 29 destinations, including popular hotspots such as Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.
Travellers are being urged to exercise caution with spirit-based drinks, especially those served on the rocks, as shots, cocktails, or in buckets and jugs. Safer alternatives include branded beers, ciders, wines and premixed cocktails sold in sealed bottles or cans. The UK Government advises sticking to licensed stores, bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels, and avoiding homemade, bootleg or street-sold alcohol.
The symptoms of methanol poisoning can initially mimic intoxication, making it difficult to spot. Warning signs include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and vision problems as well as breathlessness, which can appear between 12 and 48 hours after consumption. Victims’ families stress that it is critical not to dismiss these symptoms as a hangover and to seek urgent medical attention.
Among those who died is Kirsty McKie, 38, from Stockport, who lost her life in Bali in July 2022. Her mother Margaret said it was vital to get to hospital fast if a friend appears much drunker than expected or experiences vision problems or breathlessness. Simone White, 28, died in November 2024 after consuming free shots at a hostel bar in Laos. Her friend Hannah-Mei Grisley described how they initially thought they had a severe hangover before realising something was seriously wrong. Cheznye Emmons, 23, also died in 2013 after drinking from a bottle labelled “gin” she bought in northern Sumatra; her sister Measha noted that symptoms can take 12 to 24 hours to appear and that timing is critical.
To reduce risk, travellers should avoid free cocktails or shots, unlabelled bottles, and unusually cheap or heavily discounted drinks claiming to be brand-name alcohol. The 29 countries on the warning list include Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam.
