Laos

2024 - 11 - 21

Alcohol and Backpacking: When the Party Turns Deadly!

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Four tourists, including an Australian teen, have tragically died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. Here's what you need to know about staying safe while globetrotting!

In a tragic turn of events, Laos has become the backdrop for a horrifying story involving the deaths of four tourists, including a 19-year-old Australian girl named Bianca Jones. The group allegedly consumed drinks criticized for being laced with methanol, a toxic substance frequently associated with bootleg alcohol. This has sparked alarm among both local authorities and international travelers in this otherwise blissful backpackers' paradise. With popular destinations attracting throngs of young adventurers looking for a good time, it’s shocking to learn that the enjoyment of carefree exploration can quickly turn into a matter of life and death.

Reports indicate that these four individuals—notably from Australia, the United States, and Denmark—had gathered in a popular excursion for gap year students when disaster struck. Following their encounter with tainted beverages, they faced dire consequences. Local health officials have shared these unfortunate circumstances as a stark reminder for travelers everywhere; it’s essential to remain vigilant. Be cautious of drinks from dubious sources, particularly in areas that thrive on backpacking tourism.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the situation in Parliament, expressing deep condolences to those affected, and highlighted the sheer horror a parent might feel in such circumstances. The cases have prompted a broader warning for tourists, as several countries issue alerts regarding the consumption of alcohol in Laos. As well as Bianca Jones, an American and a British woman are among those who tragically didn’t survive this ordeal, with one British individual undergoing treatment in a local hospital, fighting for her life.

It’s essential to take the lessons from such unfortunate incidents. Many travelers tend to disregard warnings about the dangers of local alcohol, often lured by the allure of cheap options or culturally immersive experiences. However, understanding the risks can be the difference between a memorable adventure and a regrettable tragedy. Fun fact: Methanol is not just found in alcohol intended for drinking; it’s also present in certain types of antifreeze and solvents, which underscores the danger when drinking unregulated beverages!

In areas with less stringent regulations, the story of Laos serves as a stark reminder to travellers everywhere. In 2019, the WHO reported that globally, approximately 25,000 deaths occur each year due to methanol poisoning, casting even more light on the potential hazards of unregulated alcohol. Always remember: No party is worth your life, so keep those concerns high and your drinking choices safer, because nothing beats enjoying life while safeguarding it!

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Laos methanol poisoning: Australian teen the fourth tourist to die (BBC News)

Some suspect they consumed drinks laced with methanol, a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol.

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Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

Four tourists die after suspected tainted alcohol poisoning in Laos (FRANCE 24)

Four foreign tourists have died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning from drinking tainted alcohol at a backpacker hotspot in Laos, Western government ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Australian backpacker dies as countries warn of suspected ... (CNN)

An Australian teenager has died and another is fighting for her life after drinking suspected tainted alcohol in Laos, as a growing list of countries warned ...

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Image courtesy of "STV News"

Four tourists die after suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos (STV News)

A 28-year-old British woman from Oprington, Kent is reportedly in hospital. Australian tourist, Bianca Jones, has become the fourth person to die after ...

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Laos methanol poisoning: Two tourists among four dead at gap year ... (The Independent)

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese told parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Laos for treatment in a Thai ...

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Australian tourist dies after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos, raising ... (ABC News)

An Australian teenager has died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia's prime minister on Thursday called every parent's nightmare.

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Image courtesy of "The Associated Press"

Laos alcohol poisoning: American and Australian tourists die, death ... (The Associated Press)

VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager has died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia's prime minister on Thursday called every ...

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Image courtesy of "Wandsworth Guardian"

Australian teenager dies after drinking poisoned alcohol in Laos (Wandsworth Guardian)

An American and two Danish tourists also died after reports that multiple people had been fallen ill in a town popular with backpackers. Australian Prime ...

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Deaths of at Least 4 Tourists in Laos Raise Alarm About Tainted ... (The New York Times)

Travelers from the United States, Australia and Denmark have died in the Southeast Asian nation in recent days. Officials warned of poisoning caused by ...

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Image courtesy of "Legal Cheek"

Squire Patton Boggs junior lawyer hospitalised after drinking ... (Legal Cheek)

Simone White, 28, is among 14 tourists who fell seriously ill last week after drinking alcohol mixed with methanol in the town of Vang Vieng, The Times (£) ...

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Image courtesy of "Wimbledon Guardian"

Australian teenager dies after drinking poisoned alcohol in Laos (Wimbledon Guardian)

An American and two Danish tourists also died after reports that multiple people had been fallen ill in a town popular with backpackers. Australian Prime ...

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Image courtesy of "ITV News"

British tourist, 28, dies after suspected mass methanol poisoning in ... (ITV News)

Simone White from Orpington, Kent, was hospitalised after falling ill last week. | ITV National News.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Britons among those in hospital after suspected methanol poisoning ... (The Guardian)

Two Danes, an American and an Australian have died after incident in town popular with backpackers.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Laos methanol poisoning: Two Britons injured and five dead after ... (The Independent)

Simone White, a solicitor from Orpington in Kent, is the fifth tourist to die following the incident in the Vang Vieng area.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Brit dies after suspected mass poisoning in Laos (BBC News)

Briton Simone White, 28, dies after suspected methanol poisoning thought to have killed four others in Laos, South East Asia.

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Image courtesy of "Evening Standard"

Laos methanol poisoning: London lawyer fifth person to die 'after ... (Evening Standard)

Simone White, 28, from Orpington in south-east London, is said to have passed away after drinking tainted alcohol while on holiday in Vang Vieng.

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

British tourist who fell ill from methanol poisoning dies after 'free ... (Sky News)

Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, had fallen ill after reportedly drinking "free shots" from a local bar in the resort of Vang Vieng, according to ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Briton Simone White dies after suspected mass poisoning in Laos (BBC News)

It comes after Australian teen Bianca Jones' death was confirmed by her family, and the US State Department told the media that an American man died in the ...

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

British backpacker dies in Laos after 'drinking methanol served as ... (The Independent)

Simone White one of five people killed following poisoning incident in backpacking hotspot of Vang Vieng.

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Image courtesy of "Nation Thailand"

Teen and woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos have died ... (Nation Thailand)

VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager and a British woman have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia's prime minister on ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Police detain owner of Laos hostel after tourists became ill and died ... (The Guardian)

Officer at Vang Vieng's Tourism Police says manager and owner of Nana Backpacker Hostel had been taken for questioning, but no charges laid.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Holly Bowles sixth to die of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos (BBC News)

The 19-year-old died more than a week after falling ill in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, her family confirmed to Australian media. Her friend Bianca Jones, ...

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

Another teenager dies after methanol poisonings in Laos - bringing ... (Sky News)

Holly Bowles and her best friend Bianca Jones, both 19 and from Melbourne, are among the six foreigners confirmed to have died as a result of drinking ...

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Image courtesy of "LBC"

Sixth person dies in Laos 'methanol mass poisoning' as hostel ... (LBC)

A second Australian teenager has died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos, her family said - making her the sixth person to die in the incident.

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Image courtesy of "Evening Standard"

Laos poisonings: Bosses of hostel at centre of 'tainted shots' deaths ... (Evening Standard)

Five tourists, including Simone White from Orpington, are thought to have died after ingesting tainted alcohol.

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

More tourists die after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos as several ... (CBS News)

The death toll has inched up after tourists drank tainted alcohol in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos. Authorities say several people are in custody.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Laos methanol poisonings latest: Tributes paid to British lawyer with ... (The Independent)

Holly Bowles was taken to a Thai hospital after consuming 'tainted' alcohol shots in the backpacking hotspot of Vang Vieng.

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Image courtesy of "ITV News"

Sixth tourist dies in suspected mass methanol poisoning Laos as ... (ITV News)

Six people, including British lawyer Simone White from Orpington, Kent, have died in Laos after suspected methanol poisoning. | ITV National News.

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

6 tourists in Laos have died after drinking tainted alcohol (NPR)

VANG VIENG, Laos — A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, ...

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

Parents of British lawyer killed by methanol poisoning in Laos pay ... (Sky News)

Simone White was one of six people who died as a result of drinking methanol-laced vodka from a bar in Vang Vieng, a resort popular with backpackers in the ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Six people are dead after a suspected mass methanol poisoning at ... (The Guardian)

As authorities detain a hostel owner in Vang Vieng, expert says the recent deaths are just the 'tip of the iceberg'

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Laos: Parents 'devastated' over daughter's suspected poisoning death (BBC News)

Simone White died in Laos after drinking alcohol suspected to have been laced with methanol.

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