Six tourists have already died from poisoned alcohol in Laos
Catch Vieng in Laos – Editorial credit: Gail Palethorpe / Shutterstock.com
In Laos, another Australian teenager has died after drinking poisoned alcohol. Holly Bowles (19) died after a few days in critical condition in a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Earlier this week, her friend, Bianca Jones (19), died from the same cause.
The two friends were backpacking through Laos. Last week, they drank alcoholic drinks that were poisoned with methanol in the popular town of Vang Vieng. When their condition deteriorated rapidly, they were transferred to a hospital in Thailand.
Holly and Bianca are not the only victims. Methanol poisoning has claimed a total of six lives in Vang Vieng. The dead also include a British woman, an American man and two Danish tourists. The tragic events have caused great unrest among tourists and their families.
Lao police have since arrested the owner and manager of the hotel where the Australian backpackers were staying. However, information about the investigation remains scarce. Laos is known for its strict control over the media, which makes it difficult to find out more details about the situation.
Illegal alcohol production causes tragedy
The problems seem to stem from the illegal production of alcohol in Laos. To save money, distilleries sometimes add methanol, a toxic form of alcohol normally used as a pesticide, solvent or fuel. Even a small amount of methanol can be fatal.
Vang Vieng is a popular backpacker destination, mainly because of its tubing – an activity where tourists float down the river on a rubber ring while drinking. However, it is also a place where illegal and unsafe alcohol is often sold.
Warnings for tourists
Several countries, including the Netherlands, have warned their travelers. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises backpackers to be extra careful in Laos and specifically in Vang Vieng. A recent update of the travel advice states: “Always keep an eye on your food and drink. Be aware of what you consume, also in other places in Laos.”
This tragic incident underscores the dangers of unsafe alcohol in some travel destinations. Travelers are advised to remain vigilant and only consume beverages from trusted sources.
Source: NOS
Criminal behavior by unscrupulous bandits. I have little hope that the perpetrators will ever be caught. The tourist industry worldwide should make a big fuss about this, 'Laos? Stay away...' before the government there wakes up. Because there too everything revolves around money.
Erik, should you also ban Austria because they put Di-ethylene glycol in their wine? Should you also ignore Italy because of their fiddling with olive oil ... and as T says also in Bali ... (Dutchman died as a result of fiddling with spirits).
In recent weeks it has come to light that in Belgium, my country, numerous women have been raped after “something” was mixed in their drink…
Criminals/bandits are everywhere in the world and in one country more than the other… Always be alert/on your guard is the message. Maybe I am paranoid but every bottle of Chang or Singha… they have to open in front of me and strong liquor “no way” (not even shots which they sometimes offer), unless my own bottle where I am temporarily living.
Whether or not the perpetrators in Laos will be punished will not bring your loved ones back, sad matter.
“Always keep an eye on your food and drink.
What advice from the government again, yes you should always do that, but in this case they probably got a shot on the house somewhere or ordered some local alcoholic beverage.
And then unfortunately you sometimes have bandits among you who sell that cheap home-brewed stuff or use it as promotion.
With the death of several people as a result, it will unfortunately not be the last time. This can happen in so many places in the world, namely some time ago in Bali, for example.
The only advice when you are offered a free shot abroad, especially in non-Western countries, is to politely refuse it.
And only drink alcohol from a well-known brand that you can see comes from an original bottle.
However, fraud can also be committed here because, for example, people do not serve the original Bacardi rum but rather home-made stuff and put it in an original bottle.
Life is still a lottery and sometimes you unfortunately lose because of these unnecessary things.
In https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/artikel/5481767/laos-alcoholvergiftiging-backpacken-hostel-vang-vieng the story of a Dutch backpacker who suffered methanol poisoning in the same hostel last year.
It also happens in Thailand, in our area, at almost every activity that requires large amounts of alcohol, many Thais have a street vendor popping up with very young people selling refilled bottles of Hong Thong.
At half or two thirds the price of real Hong Thong Whiskey, strong stuff said to be one third Hong Thong for the colour and diluted with other strong cheap stuff, which yes, only the sellers know.
Police stand by and watch. [more or less]
And yes, people like to buy it, apparently, also other nationalities.
Put the bottle on the table and nobody complains, only when something goes wrong.
Sad for the naive backpacker.
By the way Vang Vieng is great. River tubing, beautiful cave, karst mountains. This incident with illegal alcohol is no reason not to go to Vang Vieng or Laos in general.
In Laos the atmosphere is still a bit like it was in Thailand thirty years ago.
Well, hope you don't get sick. In Vang Vieng there are even signs that say that if you feel sick you should go to Thailand as soon as possible because they won't be able to help you in Vang Vieng.
NU.nl has a report taken over from Trouw on 24 Nov. [you must be logged in]
The question was not IF but WHEN things would go wrong.
Everyone knew, locals and backpackers alike, that there was serious tampering with spirits and even beer.