Lao authorities have banned the sale and consumption of a brand of whisky and vodka after the death of six tourists from a suspected mass methanol poisoning this month.
According to Smartraveller, the Australian government’s travel advice website, the drinks Tiger vodka and Tiger whisky have been prohibited by the Laos government due to “concerns about these products being a health risk”.
The ban comes after two Australian teenagers, two Danish citizens, an American and a Briton became ill, and later died, after drinking while on holiday in the Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker hotspot. A third Australian, a dual national, also fell ill.
Police have detained the manager of a backpacker hostel as well as seven of its staff. The manager had previously told Associated Press he gave away free shots of Lao Vodka to about 100 guests, including 19-year-olds Holly Bowles and her best friend, Bianca Jones, who both died. He said no other guest had reported any problems, and that the women had then gone out for the night. He has denied to other media outlets that the alcohol from his bar was tainted.
The Australian government on Friday warned travellers to be alert “to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails”.
Other governments have issued similar warnings. The UK said tourists should only consume alcoholic drinks from licensed alcohol stores, and “take care if [drinks are] offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks”.
Methanol, which is tasteless and odourless, is sometimes added to liquor by unscrupulous producers and can also be present in homemade spirit that has not been brewed correctly. It can quickly lead to serious illness.
The Laos government has promised “to bring the perpetrators to justice” and expressed “sincere sympathy and deepest condolences” to the families of those who died. However, there has been scarce information shared about the nature of the police inquiries, while local media, which is not free to operate independently, has produced little reporting about the deaths.
The bars in Vang Vieng remained lively this week, though most backpackers are avoiding spirits and only drinking bottled beer or soju. The small town, which is surrounded by limestone mountains, has long been a popular destination for young travellers.