6 tourists who apparently drank methanol died in Laos. What is it and why was it in drinks?

BANGKOK – Two Australian teenagers and a British woman died of suspected methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos. An American and two Danes also died, although the exact causes of death were not disclosed. A New Zealander also fell ill. The US State Department has issued a warning to travelers to “be mindful of the potential risk of methanol poisoning.” So what is methanol and how do you avoid it?

What is methanol?

There are three main types of alcohol: ethanol, methanol and isopropyl. Ethanol is the only substance found in consumer alcoholic beverages intended for consumption. Isopropanol is the main ingredient in alcohol and hand sanitizers. Methanol, commonly called wood alcohol because it is a byproduct of wood distillation, is frequently used as a fuel and in products such as antifreeze and solvents.

What happens if you consume methanol?

Drinking just 25 to 90 ml (0.7 to 3.0 ounces) of methanol can be fatal without proper medical treatment, but can be successfully treated if caught early, according to the Methanol Institute, the industry’s global trade association.

Methanol poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness and decreased consciousness, including coma, seizure, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and many other symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The CDC recommends seeking immediate medical attention if methanol poisoning is suspected.

“Individuals’ responses to methanol vary,” said Alastair Hay, a toxicologist at Britain’s University of Leeds. “Some may be more tolerant than others because we all vary in the detoxifying capacity of our enzymes. But small amounts… can be lethal to individuals; others may survive a little longer.”

If it’s not for consumption, why would it be in drinks?

Methanol is sometimes deliberately added by unscrupulous bars to give mixed drinks more “kick” and to save money on the use of higher-priced ethanol-based spirits such as vodka or rum. This practice is not unique to Laos or Southeast Asia, but occurs where taxes on legitimate alcohol or the cost of legitimate alcohol are perceived to be too high, according to the Methanol Institute.

Methanol is also a normal product of the distillation process that produces ethanol, and can be introduced into the mix in home breweries (often found in poorer countries) where strict controls are not available.

How to avoid methanol poisoning?

The answer is simple: don’t drink.

However, this can be a bit challenging as it is colourless, odorless and tasteless.

In guidance issued after the Laos poisonings, the British Foreign Office recommends that alcoholic drinks should only be purchased from licensed liquor stores, that drinks should only be purchased from licensed bars and hotels, that bottle seals should always be checked to ensure they are intact, and that labels should be checked for poor print quality or misspellings.

The Methanol Institute states that beverages such as canned beer, cider, wine, premixed products and duty-free products are safer and less easily adulterated.

He also urges people to be wary of home brews, free drinks or drinks priced well below normal.