The Foreign Office has added eight more countries to the list of destinations where the UK government advises travellers take extra care – in addition to backpacker favourites Thailand, Laos and Vietnam
The Foreign Office has expanded its methanol poisoning warning list by eight additional countries as British holidaymakers face alerts about the lethal dangers of counterfeit alcohol overseas.
Ecuador, Kenya, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda, and Russia have now joined the roster of destinations where the UK government urges travellers to exercise heightened vigilance – alongside backpacker hotspots Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
This expansion follows a surge in incidents of severe illness and fatalities linked to alcoholic beverages contaminated with methanol.
Amongst the most tragic cases was the hostel nightmare late last year that claimed six tourists’ lives in Laos, including 28 year old solicitor Simone White from Orpington, Kent.
A travel specialist has now shared her essential advice for anyone visiting these locations on staying safe and steering clear of dodgy alcohol – plus guidance on what to do if you accidentally consume it.
What is methanol poisoning and how do I recognise the symptoms?
Methanol is an industrial alcohol variant commonly found in antifreeze and paint thinners. It poses extreme danger to humans, with even minimal quantities potentially proving fatal or causing permanent blindness within hours, reports the Mirror.
Initial indicators of methanol poisoning may include blurred vision and disorientation. Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance specialist at MoneySuperMarket, outlined: “Early symptoms can include vomiting and drowsiness but as poisoning worsens, it may lead to abdominal pain, vertigo, difficulty breathing, blurred vision and even blindness.”
In September 2025 alone, it’s estimated that a staggering 821 people globally were impacted by methanol poisoning, with internet searches skyrocketing by 593% following the disaster in Laos the previous year.
Alicia warns: “Untreated methanol poisoning has a fatality rate of between 20% and 40%.3 Avoid alcohol if you’re unsure of its source or if it seems unusually cheap or homemade.”
Staying Safe
Methanol is undetectable in your drink as you can’t see or smell it, so it’s advisable to stick to sealed bottles in high-risk areas.
Alicia explained: “Methanol looks and smells almost identical to regular alcohol, so it can be hard to detect.
“The safest approach is to only drink from sealed bottles, avoid free or unlabelled drinks and to never leave your drink unattended. Methanol poisoning tends to affect you faster and more severely than normal alcohol.
“If you experience any of the symptoms of methanol poisoning, or suspect you may have consumed it, you must seek immediate medical attention. Treatments can include antidote or dialysis, depending on how advanced the poisoning is.”
Be Prepared Before You Travel
Emergency treatment for methanol poisoning can result in hospital bills running into tens of thousands. It’s always essential to take out travel insurance when travelling overseas, regardless of your destination or the duration of your trip.
It’s also recommended to consult the Foreign Office’s travel guide for your destination to ensure you’re equipped with the most recent information. Alicia advised: “Unfortunately, even when you take every possible precaution, emergencies can still happen when you’re abroad.
“Travel insurance can provide cover for emergency medical expenses and hospital treatments helping to protect you from financial and additional personal stress if the worst does happen.”
What has the Foreign Office said?
The Foreign Office unveiled the eight new countries last month following a heartfelt campaign by families who have lost loved ones to methanol poisoning overseas. Hamish Falconer, the minister responsible for Consular and Crisis, warned: “Methanol poisoning can kill – it can be difficult to detect when drinking and early symptoms mirror ordinary alcohol poisoning.
“By the time travellers realise the danger, it can be too late. That’s why we’re working hard to raise awareness of the warning signs and urging anyone who suspects methanol poisoning to seek immediate medical attention. I encourage all travellers to check our travel advice and Travel Aware pages before they go on holiday.
“No family should endure what the campaigners’ families have suffered. Their determination to prevent others facing the same tragedy has been instrumental in driving forward these vital updates to our travel advice.”
Countries on alcohol poisoning warning list:
- Ecuador
- Kenya
- Japan
- Mexico
- Turkey
- Nigeria
- Peru
- Uganda
- Russia
- Thailand
- Laos
- Vietnam
- Costa Rica
- Cambodia
- Fiji
- Indonesia