Tragedy in Laos: Methanol-tainted alcohol kills 6 tourists
Six tourists from Australia, Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom died in Laos due to methanol poisoning. In response to these tragic events, the country's authorities banned the sale and consumption of a specific brand of vodka and whiskey.
10:06 AM EST, November 29, 2024
We reported the tragic events that took place in Laos last week. The alcohol poisoning occurred in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, a place particularly popular among backpackers — young travelers seeking exotic and affordable destinations.
Tragedy in a tourist country
As a result of the alcohol poisoning, six tourists died — two Danish citizens, an American, 19-year-old Australian Bianca Jones and her friend Holly Bowles, as well as 28-year-old Briton Simone White.
According to "The Guardian," in response to these tragic events, the country's authorities banned the sale and consumption of Tiger brand vodka and whiskey, suspecting these products may pose a health risk. Police also detained the manager of the hostel that served guests Tiger brand vodka and several employees.
The Lao government assured that those responsible for the tragedy would be brought to justice and offered condolences to the victims' families. However, details of the police investigation were not disclosed to protect the case.
World reactions
The governments of other countries responded to the events in Laos. Australia issued a warning to tourists to "be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails." The UK authorities advised travelers to purchase alcohol only from licensed outlets and to remain cautious when offered drinks.
According to a British newspaper, despite recent events, the bars in the hill-surrounded Vang Vieng were full of patrons in recent days. However, most of them avoided spirits, opting for bottled beer or traditional Korean distilled alcoholic beverages.
