Australia warns travellers against two Laos spirits
Australia has issued a warning to travelers, advising them not to consume certain liquors in Laos following a series of deaths believed to be caused by methanol poisoning. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs cautioned against drinking Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky due to serious safety concerns, as posted on its travel advisory website on Friday.
The Laotian authorities have suspended the sale and consumption of these two products, citing health risks, though the BBC has sought confirmation from the Laotian government.
Reports indicate that six individuals who died earlier this month in Vang Vieng, Laos, had consumed locally produced vodka. The Australian travel advisory emphasized the importance of being cautious, particularly with spirit-based drinks like cocktails.
Among the victims were two Australians, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, who were staying at the Nana Backpackers hostel. Eight hostel staff members were detained on Tuesday, but no charges have been filed yet. The hostel owners, who have since closed the business, previously denied serving illegal alcohol.
Families of the Australian victims have urged the government in Laos to continue pursuing the case.
“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,” Jones’s father Mark told reporters
The other four victims have been named as Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from the UK; James Louis Hutson, a 57-year-old American; and Danish citizens Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21.
It is unclear how many people remain ill from the suspected poisoning in Vang Vieng.
News reports say the tourists could have drunk alcohol laced with methanol, a toxic industrial chemical.
The colourless and odourless substance is often used in bootleg alcohol, and medical experts suggest say drinking as little as 25ml of it can be fatal.
The UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has also updated its travel advice to reflect the dangers of methanol poisoning in Laos, warning that the substance has been used in the manufacture of counterfeit replicas of well-known liquor brands.
