After Laos, it's Fiji: The rise of alcohol poisonings and what not to drink on your holiday abroad

A few weeks after six people died in Laos from suspected methanol-laced drinks, seven tourists were hospitalised in Fiji in a suspected alcohol poisoning case on Sunday.

The group, which included four Australians, was rushed to hospital on Sunday after consuming possibly spiked cocktails at Warwick Resort on Coral Coast.

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The cause of their illness remains unknown, with officials stating it is too early to confirm whether contaminated alcohol was involved.

What happened in Fiji?

On Saturday night, seven tourists, including four Australians, were hospitalised in Fiji after suffering symptoms of alcohol poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting, and neurological issues.

The guests fell ill after consuming cocktails at a bar in the Warwick Resort, located about 60km west of the capital, Suva.

The tourists, aged between 18 and 56, were initially taken to Sigatoka hospital. Due to the severity of their condition, they were later transferred to Lautoka Hospital on the island’s west coast. Two people remain in stable condition in the hospital, while one person was discharged on Sunday and four others on Monday.

A spokesperson told The Guardian that the group included four Australians, one American, and two foreigners living in Fiji, although their nationalities were not provided.

Fiji’s deputy prime minister and minister for tourism and civil aviation, Viliame Gavoka, stated that authorities are working with the resort, which has assured them that the drinks were not tampered with.

“The resort management has assured us that they have not engaged in practices such as substituting ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests. The incident occurred at only one bar, and it involved seven tourists, ranging in age from young to older, who fell ill,” Gavoka said.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has advised tourists to be cautious of drink spiking and methanol poisoning in Fiji and to seek urgent medical attention if they suspect such issues.

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The Fijian government has not ruled out methanol poisoning as a possible cause of the illness, according to NCA Newswire.

While the bar was full on Saturday night and many customers had ordered pina coladas, no other similar reports have been recorded at the resort or elsewhere in Fiji.

‘Terrifying sense of deja vu’: The Laos incident

“There’s a real terrifying sense of deja vu. It’s only a month ago two young Australian women died in Laos from methanol poisoning. And then when we wake up to hear this horrific news in Fiji, I’m sure all Australians have their heart in mouth and are hoping for the best,” Australian Minister Jason Clare told the ABC.

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The deaths of two Danes, two Australians, a Briton, and an American were linked to the consumption of contaminated alcohol in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town in Laos known for attracting backpackers.

Lao state-run news agency KPL reported that authorities were gathering evidence and witness accounts regarding the foreigners’ deaths, which are suspected to be due to “consumption of tainted alcoholic beverages.”

Methanol, a toxic alcohol, is often used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The Laos Foreign Ministry has said it is investigating the incident to identify the cause and hold those responsible accountable.

In response to the incident, Australia, the United States, and Britain have issued warnings to their citizens about the dangers of counterfeit alcohol and homemade spirits in Laos.

Methanol poisoning

Methanol poisoning can cause a range of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, seizures, and even coma, according to the US Centres for Disease Control.

Brewing bootleg liquor using ingredients like rice and sugarcane is common in Southeast Asia, and sometimes methanol is mixed into these drinks as a cheaper substitute for ethanol, The Guardian said in a report. While ethanol is safe in small amounts, methanol is deadly even in small doses - just 30ml can be deadly.

Past incidents in Southeast Asia revealed the dangers of methanol poisoning. In 2018, more than 80 people died in Indonesia after consuming bootleg liquor, and over 100 others were hospitalised.

Norwegian professor Knut Erik Hovda told The Guardian, “Very often this affects the poorest of the poor that nobody cares about.”

How to avoid alcohol poisoning

Dr Dicky Budiman, a public health expert from Griffith University, warned that it is nearly impossible to tell if a drink contains poisoned alcohol, so travellers, especially in Southeast Asia, must be extra cautious about what they consume.

“The clear message for young travellers is that if they are offered illegal or bootleg alcohol or local drinks, it is best to avoid it,” he told The Guardian.

Following the Laos incident, the British Foreign Office issued guidance to help travellers avoid alcohol poisoning. It advised that alcohol should only be purchased from licensed liquor stores, and drinks should be consumed only from licensed bars and hotels.

Tourists should also check bottle seals for any signs of tampering, look for poor print quality or incorrect spellings on labels, and be cautious about accepting free drinks or those priced unusually low, it said.

The Methanol Institute further recommended that travellers stick with canned beer, cider, wine, pre-mixed drinks, and duty-free products, which are generally safer and harder to adulterate. Homemade brews should be avoided, as should drinks that appear suspicious.

With inputs from agencies