What do poisoning cases in other countries reveal?

In November 2024, six tourists died in the Southeast Asian country of Laos. Among them, Australians Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones and British lawyer Simone White, in a case of mass poisoning reported by The Guardian.

Local investigations began shortly after the incident, and samples of the drinks were sent to Thailand for analysis. According to experts interviewed by The Guardian at the time, the pattern of symptoms reported was typical of methanol poisoning.

The episode led Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand to issue travel warnings about the consumption of alcoholic beverages in high-risk destinations. In response, researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a wireless sensor capable of detecting methanol at very low concentrations (down to 50 parts per billion). The device works on a person’s breath or the vapor from their drink, according to The Guardian.

The episode reignited the warning about home production and the sale of adulterated drinks in Southeast Asian countries. In the region, it is common to manufacture distillates from rice or sugar cane, often mixed with methanol due to its low cost.

According to MPI, Asia records the highest global prevalence of methanol poisonings. The continent has frequent outbreaks in countries such as Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Indonesia: drinks are sold in unlicensed stores

Over the past two decades, Indonesia has recorded the highest number of methanol poisoning incidents in the world. Most cases involve counterfeit drinks known locally as “miras oplosan” or Arak, an artisanal distillate made from coconut flower, rice or sugar cane.