Laos Bans Local Vodka, Whisky Brand After Suspected Poisoning

Australia has issued a warning to travellers about consuming certain alcoholic beverages in Laos following a series of deaths suspected to be caused by methanol poisoning.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advised against drinking Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky, citing “serious safety concerns.” According to DFAT’s travel advisory on Friday, Laotian authorities have banned the sale and consumption of these products due to health risks. The BBC has reached out to Laotian officials for confirmation.

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The warning follows reports that six people died earlier this month in Vang Vieng, Laos, after consuming locally produced vodka. Among the victims were two 19-year-old Australians, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, who were staying at the Nana Backpackers hostel, now closed.

In response, Australian authorities urged travellers to be cautious, especially with spirit-based drinks and cocktails, emphasizing the potential risks.

Eight staff members from the hostel were detained on Tuesday but have not yet been charged. The hostel’s owners had previously denied serving illicit alcohol. Families of the victims have called on Laotian authorities to pursue the investigation.

“I was happy to hear that there’s been some movement over in Laos – we cannot have our girls passing and this continuing to happen,” Jones’s father Mark told reporters earlier.

The other victims include Simone White, a 28-year-old UK lawyer; James Louis Hutson, a 57-year-old American; and Danish nationals Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21.

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The exact number of individuals still affected by the suspected poisoning remains unclear. Reports suggest the victims may have consumed alcohol contaminated with methanol, a toxic industrial chemical often used in counterfeit liquor. Experts warn that ingesting as little as 25ml of methanol can be lethal.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel advice, warning of methanol poisoning risks in Laos, particularly in counterfeit versions of well-known liquor brands.

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