Grieving Britons whose loved ones have died after drinking contaminated alcohol are warning holidaymakers about the dangers of methanol poisoning, as fears grow that more lives could be lost. The 'Know the Signs' campaign, launched by relatives and survivors, aims to educate travellers ahead of the summer holiday season.
29 Destinations with Methanol Warnings
UK Government travel advice now lists 29 destinations carrying methanol poisoning warnings, including popular tourist hotspots such as Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. The campaign urges travellers to recognise symptoms and seek urgent medical help.
Kirsty McKie, 38, originally from Stockport, died from methanol poisoning in Bali in July 2022 after consuming methanol-contaminated alcohol. Her mother Margaret warned that people should not dismiss symptoms as a hangover: 'It's a hangover, and I'll just curl up in bed and go to sleep' – but methanol poisoning 'gets worse'. She added, 'If you notice that one of your friends is much drunker than you would expect them to be, or they’re experiencing vision problems or breathlessness, it’s really important they get to hospital fast. You could save a life.'
Symptoms and Critical Timing
Warning signs of methanol poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, vision problems, and breathlessness, which can appear between 12 and 48 hours after consumption. Urgent medical attention is critical. Relatives stress that timing is key and that travellers should not mistake poisoning for a hangover.
Simone White, 28, died in November 2024 after drinking free shots at a hostel bar in Laos. Her friend Bethany Clarke was also hospitalised with methanol poisoning but survived. Simone's friend Hannah-Mei Grisley said, 'The next morning, they woke up and thought they had a really bad hangover. Simone vomited, Bethany fainted, and that’s when they knew something was seriously wrong. That’s why it’s so important that people know how to reduce the risk when drinking alcohol overseas and seek urgent help as soon as something doesn’t feel right.'
Reducing Risk While Travelling
To cut down on risks, the campaign advises avoiding free cocktails or shots, drinking from unlabelled bottles, and unusually cheap or heavily-discounted drinks claiming to be brand-name alcohol. Spirit-based drinks served 'on the rocks', as shots, cocktails, or in buckets and jugs are particularly risky. Opting for branded beers, ciders, wines, and pre-mixed cocktails in sealed bottles or cans is safer. Sticking to licensed stores, bars, clubs, restaurants, and hotels, and avoiding homemade, bootleg, or street-sold alcohol can also help.
Essex backpacker Cheznye Emmons, 23, died in 2013 after buying a bottle labelled 'gin' from a shop in northern Sumatra that had been mixed with methanol. Her sister Measha Emmons said, 'It is so important that travellers understand the risks because what happened to Cheznye could happen to anyone. One of the most dangerous things about methanol poisoning is that there is no reliable way to tell whether alcohol has been contaminated, and symptoms can take 12 to 24 hours to appear. But timing is critical. About four or five hours after drinking, Cheznye began to feel unwell. A few hours later, she woke up saying she couldn’t see. By then, it was too late.'
Government Response
The Foreign Office urged Brits to check the latest travel advice for their destination before departure and to act quickly if something does not feel right. Minister Hamish Falconer stated, 'Methanol poisoning can have devastating – and sometimes fatal – consequences,' and praised the relatives and survivors raising awareness. He added, 'The courage of survivors and bereaved families in sharing their experiences will help raise awareness and could save lives.'
