Campaign Launched After Multiple Deaths
Grieving Britons whose loved ones have died after drinking contaminated alcohol are alerting other holidaymakers amid fears the poisonings could claim more lives. As thousands of holidaymakers prepare for a summer break, relatives and friends of victims are urging travellers to be aware of drinks that could be spiked with methanol.
The “Know the Signs” campaign comes as there are now 29 destinations, including tourist hotspots such as Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam, which carry methanol poisoning warnings on UK Government travel advice.
Kirsty McKie's Story
Kirsty McKie, 38, and originally from Stockport, died from methanol poisoning in Bali after drinking methanol-contaminated alcohol in July 2022. Her mother Margaret said people should not think, like Kirsty, that methanol poisoning can be dismissed like “it’s a hangover, and I’ll just curl up in bed and go to sleep”. Methanol poisoning “gets worse” she said, adding: “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 Precautions
Nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion are some warning signs of methanol poisoning, along with vision problems and breathlessness that can strike between 12 and 48 hours after consumption. Urgent medical attention should be sought. The relatives and friends urged travellers not to dismiss methanol poisoning as just a hangover as timing is critical.
Avoiding free cocktails or shots or drinking from unlabelled bottles and not buying unusually cheap or heavily-discounted drinks that claim to be brand-name alcohol may also cut down on the risks. Travellers should be particularly wary of spirit-based drinks, especially those served “on the rocks”, as shots, cocktails, or in buckets and jugs. Opting for drinks including branded beers, ciders, wines and premixed cocktails sold in sealed bottles or cans may be a better choice. Sticking to licensed stores, bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels and avoiding homemade, bootleg or street-sold alcohol could also help cut back on potential risks.
Simone White's Death
Simone White, 28, died after drinking free shots at a hostel bar in Laos, south-east Asia in November 2024 with her friend Bethany Clarke, who was also admitted to hospital with methanol poisoning but survived. Ms White’s friend Hannah-Mei Grisley said: “The next morning, they (Simone and Bethany) 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.”
Cheznye Emmons' Tragedy
Essex backpacker Cheznye Emmons, 23, died in 2013 after buying a bottle labelled “gin” from a shop in northern Sumatra which 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”. She said: “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 Advice
The Foreign Office urged Brits to check the latest travel advice for their destination before their departure and to act quickly if something does not feel right. Minister Hamish Falconer stated that “methanol poisoning can have devastating – and sometimes fatal – consequences”, and praised the relatives and survivors who are trying to raise awareness. He added: “The courage of survivors and bereaved families in sharing their experiences will help raise awareness and could save lives.”
