SINGAPORE: Laos has banned the sale and consumption of a model of whiskey and vodka following the deaths of six vacationers from suspected methanol poisoning earlier this month.
This is claimed by Smartraveller, a service of the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that gives journey recommendation to its residents.
Authorities within the Southeast Asian nation “have issued an order banning the sale and consumption of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey attributable to issues that these merchandise could pose a well being threat,” the discover reads.
“Australians ought to keep away from consuming these merchandise attributable to these critical security issues,” he added.
The warning, up to date on Friday (November 29), comes after two Danish residents, an American, a Briton and two Australians died after being rushed to hospital following an evening out in traveler hotspot Vang Vieng with the backpack, on November twelfth.
They would have died of suspected methanol poisoning.
“Several international nationals, together with Australians, had been victims in November 2024 of methanol poisoning by way of the consumption of alcoholic drinks,” the Australian advisory states.
“Be alert to potential dangers, significantly with alcohol-based drinks, together with cocktails.”
According to the Methanol Institute, methanol is commonly intentionally and illegally added to drinks as a result of it’s cheaper than ethanol, which might be consumed thus rising the alcohol content material of the drink.
The Lao authorities expressed “honest condolences and deepest condolences to the households of the victims”, including that an investigation was underway to establish the causes of the accident.
On November 26, the Laos Post reported that police had arrested the 34-year-old supervisor of Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng and 7 different staff for questioning following the dying. According to native media, these arrested had been Vietnamese residents.
The two Australian victims, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, had been each 19 years previous and from Melbourne.
They died after feeling unwell whereas staying within the hostel and consuming on the hostel bar earlier than going out for the night, Australian media reported.
Vang Vieng has been a preferred vacation spot for backpackers touring in Southeast Asia since Laos opened its doorways to tourism many years in the past.
The metropolis, as soon as recognized for wild backpacker events, has rebranded itself as an ecotourism hub.
There had been no experiences on Laos’ ban on Tiger-brand alcohol within the nation’s English-language state media.
The United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand have additionally issued warnings concerning the probably deadly penalties of consuming tainted alcohol in Laos.
