29 Countries The UK Government Warns Carry Methanol Poisoning Risk

!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb';cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","mediaId":"c41e05a6-7ba0-42f1-8023-0f5ff30eab87"}).render("6a5796dee4b03c820ebbfaa1");}); The UK government has launched a campaign to prevent methanol poisoning abroad, as survivors and their families call for greater awareness. Methanol is a highly toxic form of very strong alcohol that isn’t meant for human consumption. Sometimes it can be found in “counterfeit, illegally produced or contaminated alcoholic drinks,” the government explained. As little as 30ml is enough to kill an adult – an amount you can easily expect in a standard shot. Even less than that (10ml) can cause blindness and other permanent and serious harms. Here are the signs of methanol poisoning, as well as where the UK government said might carry a greater risk for Brits travelling abroad. What are the signs of methanol poisoning? Sometimes, symptoms of the condition can be confused for a hangover. Margaret McKie’s 38-year-old daughter Kirsty died from methanol poisoning on holiday in Bali in 2022. “Kirsty thought, like a lot of people do when they’ve got methanol poisoning, ‘it’s a hangover, and I’ll just curl up in bed and go to sleep’. But with methanol poisoning, it gets worse,” McKie said. “If you notice that one of your friends is much drunker than you would expect them to be, or they’re experiencing vision problems or breathlessness, it’s really important they get to hospital fast. You could save a life.” Early signs can resemble alcohol poisoning. These may include: vomiting, poor judgement, loss of balance, drowsiness. 12-48 hours later, people might show symptoms like: abdominal pain, vertigo, hyperventilation, breathlessness, blurred vision and/or blindness, becoming comatose, convulsions. Experiencing any of this last set of symptoms constitutes a medical emergency. Seek urgent help if they happen to you or someone you’re travelling with. Vision issues are a hallmark symptom, the government added. Blurriness, trouble looking at bright lights, complete blindness, tunnel vision, and/or “snowfield vision”, or seeing the snow-like static you might remember from old TVs, are also a sign you or someone else needs immediate medical assistance. How can I avoid methanol poisoning on holiday? Avoid free shots and cocktails, stay clear of any alcohol that doesn’t have a label on it, and don’t drink suspiciously cheap alcohol that says it’s a brand-name kind. If you’re going for beer, premixed cocktails, or wine, stick to known brands, and ensure the bottles or cans they’re stored in are sealed. Stay cautious about cocktails served “on the rocks”, including those presented in shots, cocktails, buckets or jugs. Don’t try “bootleg”, homemade or street-sold booze – choose licensed bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels every time. Which destinations may have a higher risk of methanol poisoning? The UK government warned the following locations might carry a higher risk: Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam. Related... The EU Just Approved New Rules For Air Travel: 13 Changes To Expect The Security Step A Travel Expert Says To Make Before Closing Your Suitcase Longing For A 'Nestcation'? The Travel Trend 1 In 4 Parents Regret Not Trying

The UK government has launched a campaign to prevent methanol poisoning abroad, as survivors and their families call for greater awareness. Methanol is a highly toxic form of very strong alcohol that isn’t meant for human consumption. Sometimes it can be found in “counterfeit, illegally produced or contaminated alcoholic drinks,” the government explained. As little as 30ml is enough to kill an adult – an amount you can easily expect in a standard shot. Even less than that (10ml) can cause blindness and other permanent and serious harms. Here are the signs of methanol poisoning, as well as where the UK government said might carry a greater risk for Brits travelling abroad. What are the signs of methanol poisoning? Sometimes, symptoms of the condition can be confused for a hangover. Margaret McKie’s 38-year-old daughter Kirsty died from methanol poisoning on holiday in Bali in 2022. “Kirsty thought, like a lot of people do when they’ve got methanol poisoning, ‘it’s a hangover, and I’ll just curl up in bed and go to sleep’. But with methanol poisoning, it gets worse,” McKie said. “If you notice that one of your friends is much drunker than you would expect them to be, or they’re experiencing vision problems or breathlessness, it’s really important they get to hospital fast. You could save a life.” Early signs can resemble alcohol poisoning. These may include: vomiting, poor judgement, loss of balance, drowsiness. 12-48 hours later, people might show symptoms like: abdominal pain, vertigo, hyperventilation, breathlessness, blurred vision and/or blindness, becoming comatose, convulsions. Experiencing any of this last set of symptoms constitutes a medical emergency. Seek urgent help if they happen to you or someone you’re travelling with. Vision issues are a hallmark symptom, the government added. Blurriness, trouble looking at bright lights, complete blindness, tunnel vision, and/or “snowfield vision”, or seeing the snow-like static you might remember from old TVs, are also a sign you or someone else needs immediate medical assistance. How can I avoid methanol poisoning on holiday? Avoid free shots and cocktails, stay clear of any alcohol that doesn’t have a label on it, and don’t drink suspiciously cheap alcohol that says it’s a brand-name kind. If you’re going for beer, premixed cocktails, or wine, stick to known brands, and ensure the bottles or cans they’re stored in are sealed. Stay cautious about cocktails served “on the rocks”, including those presented in shots, cocktails, buckets or jugs. Don’t try “bootleg”, homemade or street-sold booze – choose licensed bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels every time. Which destinations may have a higher risk of methanol poisoning? The UK government warned the following locations might carry a higher risk: Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam. Related... The EU Just Approved New Rules For Air Travel: 13 Changes To Expect The Security Step A Travel Expert Says To Make Before Closing Your Suitcase Longing For A 'Nestcation'? The Travel Trend 1 In 4 Parents Regret Not Trying