The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has added eight new countries Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, and Uganda to its list of destinations where travellers face an increased risk of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or tainted alcoholic drinks.
The updated travel guidance follows several incidents involving British nationals in these countries and comes after the deaths of six tourists in Laos in 2024. Previously, the warning covered Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Fiji.
Travellers are being cautioned to watch for signs of methanol poisoning, such as blurry vision, nausea, dizziness, and confusion, which can quickly progress to serious illness or even death.
The advisory highlights the ongoing danger of counterfeit or contaminated alcoholic beverages, often linked to unregulated street sellers, bars, or homemade brews, and urges tourists to exercise caution when consuming alcohol abroad.
