BANGKOK, Thailand. Six foreign tourists, including two Australian teenagers and a British woman, died in Laos from suspected methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol. An American man and two Danish nationals also died, while a New Zealand tourist fell ill but survived. The U.S. State Department warned travelers about the risks of methanol poisoning.
Methanol, or wood alcohol, is commonly used in products like fuel and antifreeze. Unlike ethanol, the alcohol in beverages, methanol is toxic. Even small amounts—25 to 90 ml—can be fatal without immediate treatment, according to the Methanol Institute. The CDC notes that symptoms of methanol poisoning include headaches, nausea, blurred vision, and coma.
Methanol contamination in drinks often occurs in unregulated home-brew distilleries or is added deliberately by vendors to cut costs. Travelers should buy alcohol only from licensed stores, avoid unsealed bottles, and stick to safer options like canned beer or duty-free products.
This tragic incident underscores the need for caution when consuming alcohol abroad.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
