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Risks of consuming local alcohol when travelling abroad

20 Feb 2025

The media have reported two foreign tourists died from methanol poisoning in Hoi An, Vietnam in late December 2024 after consuming counterfeit (fake) alcoholic drinks (also known as ‘boot leg’ alcohol).  

This follows a similar report of six foreign tourists dying from methanol poisoning in Vang Veing, Laos in late 2024.  

In addition, the UK Foreign commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are now advising travellers to Turkey to be aware of counterfeit alcohol, following reports of tourists becoming seriously unwell and dying after consuming illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol in Ankara and Istanbul. The US State department have also issued a similar warning.

Travelling abroad is often a time when people relax and embrace new cultures.  This may include taking part in activities such as consuming more alcohol than usual and/or trying out local illegal or herbal substances, which can all reduce your inhibitions and increase risk-taking behaviours.  This often leads to accidents and injuries occurring (such as road accidents, falls or drowning) or can cause serious illness or even death.

Therefore, it is important that you are aware of the risks of consuming fake alcohol, and how to reduce these risks when travelling abroad.

What is counterfeit or fake alcohol?

Counterfeit or fake alcoholic beverages are drinks which contain alcohol that are produced illegally. Fake alcohol is often labelled to look like market-leading brands, such as vodka or wine.

There’s no way to know what chemicals have been added or the actual percentage of alcohol contained in fake alcohol. Methanol, which is a non-drinking form of alcohol commonly used to create fuel, solvents or antifreeze, is commonly added to fake alcoholic drinks. 

Methanol is not made for human consumption and is much more harmful to humans than ethanol (which is the safe ‘drinking’ type of alcohol used to make alcoholic drinks).  Consuming even small amounts of methanol can be extremely dangerous to your health. Serious symptoms include coma, seizures, blindness, damage to your nerves, and death.

Advice for Travellers

Before travelling abroad, you should always review the FCDO Foreign Travel Advice for information on safety, health risks and legal differences to be aware of at your destination.  

Having travel insurance in place before you go is essential, however you should be aware that most insurance companies won’t provide cover if you are found to be 'under the influence' of drugs/alcohol when an incident occurs.

To help reduce your risk of consuming fake alcohol when abroad, you should follow these tips:
•    only buy and consume alcoholic beverages from licensed shops, bars, hotels, and markets
•    check that alcohol bottle seals are intact and haven’t been tampered with, even when purchased at licensed stores
•    check alcohol labels for signs of poor print quality or incorrect spelling
•    don’t drink alcoholic drinks that don’t look or taste as they should
•    don’t leave your drinks unattended
•    avoid trying ‘home-made’ alcohol
•    stay alert in locations popular with tourists and stay aware of your surroundings
•    watch out for friends and travel companions and always stick together
•    monitor media and news stations for information on risks in your destination
•    seek immediate medical attention if you, or a traveling companion are feeling unwell and suspect you may have consumed fake alcohol
•    report any suspicious behaviours to local authorities


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