Australian Advisory Warns Travelers Against Specific Laotian Spirits

Australian authorities have cautioned individuals traveling to Laos against consuming certain alcoholic beverages, after a series of fatalities attributed to suspected methanol poisoning. The Australian foreign affairs department, via its travel advisory website, stated on Friday that Australians ought to refrain from consuming Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky “due to serious safety concerns”. It further noted that Laotian officials have prohibited the distribution and intake of these two items, citing potential health hazards. The BBC has sought verification from the Laotian government. Information indicates that six individuals who passed away earlier this month in Vang Vieng, a town in Laos, had consumed shots of vodka produced locally. In light of these fatalities, the Australian travel advisory advised that travelers “be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails”. The deceased in Vang Vieng included two Australians, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19. All victims had been accommodated at the Nana Backpackers hostel. On Tuesday, eight staff members were taken into custody, though no charges have been filed against them to date. The proprietors of the hostel, which is currently shut down, had previously refuted claims of providing illegal alcohol. Relatives of the Australian casualties have implored the Laotian government to persist with the investigation. Mark, father of Jones, informed journalists earlier, stating, “I was happy to hear that there’s been some movement over in Laos – we cannot have our girls passing and this continuing to happen.” The identities of the remaining four victims are Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from the UK; James Louis Hutson, a 57-year-old American; and Danish nationals Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, aged 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, aged 21. The precise number of individuals still suffering from the suspected poisoning in Vang Vieng is not yet known. Media accounts indicate that the tourists may have consumed alcohol contaminated with methanol, a hazardous industrial chemical. This substance, which is both colourless and odourless, frequently appears in illegally produced alcohol, and health professionals caution that ingesting as little as 25ml can be lethal. Furthermore, the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has revised its travel guidance to highlight the risks of methanol poisoning in Laos, cautioning that this chemical has been employed in creating fake versions of popular liquor brands. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.