The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has widened its methanol poisoning advisory to include eight additional countries, citing rising cases of fatalities and severe illnesses linked to contaminated alcoholic beverages.
Newly listed countries include Nigeria, Kenya, Japan, Mexico, Uganda, Ecuador, Peru, and Russia. These join previously flagged destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Turkey, and Fiji.
Methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol found in products like antifreeze and paint thinners, is sometimes illicitly added to spirit-based drinks to cut costs. Even minimal ingestion can result in blindness or death within 12 to 48 hours.
The FCDO warned that methanol is both tasteless and odourless, making it nearly impossible for travellers to detect. British nationals are advised to avoid homemade or street-sold alcoholic drinks, which may be adulterated.
Hamish Falconer, UK Minister for Consular and Crisis, stated, “Methanol poisoning can kill. It can be difficult to detect when drinking, and by the time travellers realise the danger, it can be too late.”
Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and confusion may escalate to blurred vision or blindness. Travellers experiencing these signs are urged to seek immediate medical attention.
To mitigate risk, the FCDO recommends purchasing sealed or bottled drinks from licensed venues and avoiding pre-mixed cocktails or drinks served in buckets or jugs, especially in tourist areas.
The advisory is part of the FCDO’s “Know the Signs of Methanol Poisoning” campaign, launched to educate travellers on prevention. The initiative follows consultations with health experts, parliamentarians, and families affected by methanol poisoning abroad.
This update aligns with the UK’s broader Travel Aware initiative, which provides timely safety guidance to British nationals travelling overseas.
