Travellers have been urged to be cautious of certain alcoholic drinks following multiple deaths from suspected methanol poisoning in a backpacking hotspot.
Six people have died after visiting the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos in what appears to be a mass poisoning.
Among them was 28-year-old lawyer and British national Simone White, as well as Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, two Danish women and a 56-year-old American citizen.
A friend of Simone’s has since claimed that a group of six individuals had taken ill after taking free shots from the same bar.
The deaths have taken place in Vang Vieng, Laos (Getty Stock Images)
New Zealand and Dutch officials are also said to be monitoring situations involving their own nationals.
Authorities in Laos have since confirmed that a ‘number of people’ have been detained in connection with the case, this includes the manager and owner of the town’s Nana Backpacker Hostel.
However, no charges have yet been filed.
What is methanol poisoning?
Methanol is an industrial alcohol which is commonly found in products such as paint thinner, car windshield washers and varnish products.
It is extremely toxic to humans, with the BBC reporting that just 25ml of methanol can be lethal for the body.
The chemical only becomes toxic once the body begins to metabolise it, which is why it can take up to 24 hours before the onset of symptoms.
These include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, changes to vision and abdominal pain.
28-year-old Brit Simone White is one of the six fatalities (Facebook)
Seeking prompt medical attention is crucial when dealing with methanol poisoning, as treatment administered within 30 hours of the poisoning can reduce the impact of the poisoning.
Is it possible to tell if there is methanol in my drink?
Methanol is typically colourless and has a similar smell as ethanol – the pure form of alcohol found in drinks such as spirits, wine and beer – which makes it hard to tell if a drink has been spiked with methanol.
It is almost impossible to tell the difference between drinks which do and do not contain methanol without specialist equipment.
Drinks to avoid while travelling
Adding methanol to alcoholic drinks is commonly found in various tourist destinations across Southeast Asia and is either added to drinks in order to save money on alcohol or used in home brewed spirits.
It is impossible to tell the difference between methanol and ethanol without specialist equipment (Getty Stock Images)
Travellers visiting countries which have a history of methanol poisoning are advised to only purchase drinks from licensed liquor stores, bars and hotels.
It is also advised to avoid consuming home-brewed alcohol as well as spirt-based cocktails.
You can also check labels on bottles for spelling mistakes or signs which suggest the product may be counterfeit as well as making sure seals on bottles are still intact.
