UK Launches Methanol Warning Campaign for 29 Destinations as 30ml Can Be Fatal
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15
UK Launches Methanol Warning Campaign for 29 Destinations as 30ml Can Be Fatal
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15
Summary
Twenty-nine destinations on UK travel advice now carry methanol poisoning warnings as the government rolls out its “Know the Signs” campaign ahead of the summer holiday season.
As little as 30ml of methanol — about one shot — can kill an adult, and smaller amounts can cause permanent harm including blindness; the toxin is sometimes found in counterfeit or contaminated alcohol.
Calum MacDonald, a Surrey traveller poisoned in Laos in 2024, said he suffered permanent vision damage after initially not knowing the risk, while Kirsty McKie died in Bali in 2022 after mistaking symptoms for a hangover.
Symptoms can worsen over 12 to 48 hours and include unusual drunkenness, nausea, stomach pain, breathlessness, confusion and vision problems, making rapid medical help critical.
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said the campaign will amplify official travel advice and use TikTok and YouTube influencers to reach younger travellers.