What is methanol, what are the symptoms of methanol poisoning and how does it end up in alcohol?

Five radical including a British backpacker have died successful a suspected methanol poisoning lawsuit after allegedly being served escaped drinks in Laos, and astatine slightest 1 much traveller is warring for her life.

Simone White, 28, a solicitor from Orpington in Kent, reportedly fell sick past week aft she was thought to person accepted the drinks in the Vang Vieng area.

Two Danes, an Australian and an American besides died aft being taken to infirmary with akin poisoning symptoms.

A New Zealander is besides among those unwell and being treated, and the country’s overseas ministry said determination had been “several cases of suspected methanol poisoning aft consuming alcoholic drinks”.

Australian premier curate Anthony Albanese said Bianca Jones, 19, had died aft being taken to infirmary successful Thailand. A person of the teenager, Holly Bowles, was “fighting her life”, Mr Albanese besides told parliament.

Laos constabulary are investigating.

What is methanol?

Methanol, a colourless liquid with a faintly saccharine pungent smell, wholly mixes with water. It’s precise akin to ethanol - the axenic signifier of alcohol successful alcoholic drinks.

Unlike ethanol, however, methanol is toxic to humans and is commonly utilized arsenic a solvent successful concern processes, a precursor for producing formaldehyde and an constituent successful products similar antifreeze and fuel.

How unsafe is it?

Methanol is readily absorbed and distributed passim the body. It is metabolised to formic acid, which is toxic successful ample concentrations.

The US National Institutes of Health says it is good established that methanol has superior acute toxic effects that hap astatine precocious levels of exposure.

The NHS warns that arsenic small arsenic 4ml of methanol tin origin hallucinations and blindness.

Half an hr to 2 hours aft consuming methanol symptoms see drowsiness, disorder and irritability. Later symptoms see dizziness, vomiting, terrible abdominal symptom and diarrhoea.

Severe cases whitethorn pb to fast, shallow breathing, past coma and convulsions.

Patients whitethorn beryllium fixed dialysis.

How tin tourists debar it?

Homemade alcohol, fashionable successful southeast Asia, whitethorn accidentally incorporate excessively overmuch methanol due to the fact that of the distillation process. Or it whitethorn beryllium utilized arsenic a inexpensive substitute for ethanol – efficaciously a counterfeit alcoholic drink.

Local spirits including section atom oregon thenar liquor, spirit-based mixed drinks specified arsenic cocktails, and fake branded intoxicant sold successful shops oregon bars whitethorn each beryllium affected.

The Foreign Office issued a informing to UK tourists, advising holidaymakers successful Laos to instrumentality precautions.

Measures see buying intoxicant lone from licensed stores and licensed bars and hotels, and avoiding homemade drinks.

Tourists should besides cheque that vessel seals are intact erstwhile buying and cheque labels for mediocre people prime oregon incorrect spelling, which whitethorn bespeak they are knock-offs.

Anyone suspecting they person drunk methanol is advised to get aesculapian help.