Recent tragedies have shown how risky it is to buy cheap drinks in bars.
The consumption of cheap or homemade alcoholic beverages containing methanol can lead to blindness or death, warns the British Foreign Office. The new, expanded list now includes Mexico, Russia, and Japan. The British Foreign Office (FCDO) has expanded its warning about the dangers of methanol poisoning, adding eight more countries where such cases have been reported among British tourists.
The new warning now includes popular destinations such as Japan and Mexico, and expands recommendations already in place for countries like Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.
The update is part of the FCDO's information campaign "Know the Signs of Methanol Poisoning," created to raise awareness of the dangers associated with illegal or counterfeit drinks.
Hamish Falconer, the UK Minister for Consular Affairs and Crises, stated that methanol poisoning is often fatal and difficult to recognize in time to save the victim.
"Early symptoms resemble typical alcohol poisoning," his statement noted. "By the time travelers realize the danger, it may be too late."
The Foreign Office has added Japan, Mexico, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Russia, Kenya, and Bangladesh to the list.
The FCDO did not provide details about specific incidents in the new countries, but this decision was made following collaboration with lawmakers, health and travel experts, and families of victims affected by methanol poisoning. It also reflects growing concerns about counterfeit or unregulated alcohol in tourist areas.
Recent tragedies have shown how risky it is to buy cheap drinks in bars, clubs, and tourist resorts.
Earlier this year, a British woman and a South African man died in the Vietnamese city of Hoi An, reportedly after consuming homemade limoncello.
At the end of 2024, six travelers, including a British citizen and two Danish nationals, died at the popular tourist resort of Vang Vieng in Laos after consuming alcoholic drinks laced with methanol.
In Indonesia, more than 334 suspected cases of methanol poisoning have been reported since 2019, according to the database of Médecins Sans Frontières, which tracks methanol poisoning cases worldwide.
Most of these are linked to bootleg alcohol known as "arak." This unregulated, often homemade spirit is typically distilled from palm flower sap or rice and sold in small shops in Bali, Lombok, and the Gili Islands, where tourists are among the victims each year, MSF reports.
Methanol is a type of industrial alcohol commonly used in antifreeze, paints, and cleaning products. It looks and tastes similar to ethanol—the very alcohol found in beverages—but is highly toxic to humans. Even small amounts can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Just 30 grams of pure methanol, equivalent to the size of a standard shot glass, can result in death within 12–48 hours.
Early-stage symptoms of methanol poisoning can resemble a hangover or typical alcohol intoxication—nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and confusion—but can worsen within hours: vision problems, seizures, or respiratory failure may occur.
Since methanol is odorless and tasteless, travelers have no reliable way to know if a drink is dangerous.
The FCDO urges travelers to only purchase sealed drinks at licensed establishments and to avoid homemade or unmarked spirits, pre-mixed cocktails, and drinks served in buckets or jugs, like those sold in popular Southeast Asian locations.
The new guidance includes links to updated resources on the government’s Travel Aware website, detailing how to recognize methanol poisoning and what to do if symptoms appear.
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