Travellers Warned of Methanol Poisoning Risks in New Campaign

BBC: When Calum MacDonald visited a bar in Laos he experienced "a blinding kaleidoscopic light" permanently impairing his vision, less than two days after having a drink.

He was poisoned by methanol in 2024, and has since joined a UK government campaign to raise awareness of the risks that turned his life upside down.

MacDonald, who is in his 20s and from Surrey, told BBC Breakfast he was unaware of the dangers when travelling and if he had known "I probably would be in a different situation today".

Methanol is a highly toxic industrial strength form of alcohol that can sometimes be found in counterfeit, illegally produced or contaminated alcoholic drinks.

As little as 30ml - about a single shot - can be fatal to an adult, while smaller amounts can cause serious and permanent harm, including blindness.

Twenty-nine destinations now carry methanol poisoning warnings on UK government travel advice, including popular tourist destinations such as Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam. » | Olivia Ireland | Wednesday, July 15, 2026