Methanol poisoning warning issued to travellers after several drink-related deaths

Methanol poisoning warning issued to travellers after several drink-related deaths Holidaymakers travelling to 29 holiday destinations have been urged to learn the signs of methanol poisoning as the Government launched a new awareness campaign backed by bereaved families and survivors The Government has issued a new methanol poisoning warning for holidaymakers travelling to nearly 30 countries. With thousands of Brits set to head overseas this summer, ministers have teamed up with survivors and bereaved families to launch the “Know the Signs” campaign, urging travellers to understand the dangers of methanol poisoning and take steps to protect themselves while abroad. The campaign comes as the Government updated its travel advice for 29 destinations, urging holidaymakers to take extra care with spirit-based drinks, particularly those served on the rocks, as shots, cocktails, or in buckets and jugs. Holidaymakers are being urged to play it safe by choosing sealed drinks where possible, such as branded beers, ciders, wines and pre-mixed cocktails. They are also advised to avoid homemade or street-sold alcohol and buy drinks from reputable bars, restaurants, hotels and other licensed venues. Minister for Consular Hamish Falconer MP said: “No one expects a holiday to end in tragedy, yet methanol poisoning can have devastating – and sometimes fatal – consequences. The courage of survivors and bereaved families in sharing their experiences will help raise awareness and could save lives. “Before travelling, check the latest travel advice for your destination and act quickly if something doesn’t feel right. When drinking spirits overseas, use reputable venues, purchase sealed drinks and avoid homemade alcohol or free shots.” Methanol is a highly toxic form of industrial alcohol that can contaminate counterfeit, illegally produced or contaminated alcoholic drinks. Just 30ml – roughly a single shot – can be fatal, while even smaller amounts can cause serious and permanent harm, including blindness. Among those supporting the campaign is Margaret McKie, whose daughter Kirsty died after drinking contaminated alcohol in Bali in July 2022. Kirsty, 38, from Stockport, had been living in Bali and was engaged to a man who owned a wine business and restaurant. Her family said she had always been careful to buy alcohol from reputable suppliers. Margaret said: “Kirsty thought, like a lot of people do when they’ve got methanol poisoning, ‘it’s a hangover, and I’ll just curl up in bed and go to sleep’. But with methanol poisoning, it gets worse.” She told the BBC: “She was fairly tired, she’d been working hard, she’d had a couple of drinks, she just thought she had a hangover, she didn’t seek help and when she lost consciousness her fiance got her to the hospital and by that point it was too late to save her.” Margaret warned: “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.” Survivor Calum MacDonald also joined the campaign after being poisoned in Laos in 2024. Less than two days after having a drink at a bar, he experienced “a blinding kaleidoscopic light”, permanently impairing his vision. He said if he had known the warning signs, “I probably would be in a different situation today.” He told the BBC: “If you have the information at hand and you can recognise situations in which you might be at higher risk and you can recognise the symptoms and then you can mitigate those risks and do the best you can to look after yourself and look after your friends.” Hannah-Mei Grisley, whose friend Simone White, 28, died after consuming methanol-contaminated alcohol in Laos, is backing the campaign. She said: “Before Simone died, I’d never heard of methanol poisoning. I had no idea that something so dangerous could be present in a drink without any obvious warning signs. “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.