A tragic incident occurred as a woman passed away after consuming methanol-laced shots unknowingly. The victim, Bethany Clarke, aged 28, hailing from Orpington, southeast London, embarked on a backpacking journey across Southeast Asia alongside her close friend, Simone White, also 28, last year.
During their travels starting from Cambodia and moving on to Laos, the duo indulged in bootleg alcohol, resulting in a fatal outcome for Simone. They had been tubing down the river as part of a tourist activity and returned to their hostel for a night of drinking, where they consumed several methanol-laced shots mixed with Sprite.
Following the consumption, they experienced unusual symptoms the next morning but attributed them to a typical hangover, albeit different from any they had encountered previously. Despite feeling unwell, they proceeded with their plans, including visiting the Blue Lagoon and kayaking down the river, although they were too weak to actively participate.
As their condition deteriorated, they sought medical assistance at a local hospital initially, which proved insufficient in diagnosing their ailment. Subsequently, they were transferred to a private hospital, but unfortunately, it was too late for Simone.
The delayed confirmation of methanol poisoning arrived two weeks after the incident, coinciding with Simone’s passing. Bethany, deeply affected by the loss, has since been advocating for increased awareness and preventive measures against methanol poisoning, noting the lack of education and government initiatives in the UK compared to countries like Australia.
Recently, the Foreign Office expanded its list of countries at risk for methanol poisoning due to counterfeit or tainted alcoholic beverages, with Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, and Uganda added to the existing list that includes Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Fiji.
Methanol poisoning arises from the adulteration of drinks with methanol to increase volume and reduce costs. Symptoms of the poisoning encompass nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and potentially vision problems emerging within 12 to 48 hours post-consumption. Bethany emphasizes the importance of caution in beverage choices to prevent further tragedies and urges for more proactive government intervention to address the issue effectively.