The methanol poisoning tragedy that claimed the lives of six foreign travellers in Laos nearly two years ago remains a risk that travel advisors and their clients should not overlook.

In its latest update, the Australian government's SmartTraveller website has raised the overall travel advice level for Laos, urging “a high degree of caution due to crime, the risk of methanol poisoning and ongoing concerns around lack of transparency in the justice system”. 

The advisory warns travellers to "be alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks, including cocktails", noting that the Lao legal system "may not provide transparency or justice, particularly in criminal cases".

The renewed warning comes as Lao prosecutors confirmed they will bring criminal charges against the owner of the Tiger Vodka factory following investigations into the deaths of six foreign tourists in Vang Vieng in December 2024. The victims comprised one American, one Briton, two Australians and two Danes.

Following the incident, Lao authorities banned the sale of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey in Vang Vieng after tests found dangerous levels of methanol in the products.

The former Nana Backpackers Hostel – now known as Vang Vieng Central Backpackers Hostel – where the group consumed the contaminated drinks, remains closed. The owner and 10 employees have had their passports confiscated and are barred from leaving Laos while legal proceedings continue.

What travellers should know about methanol in drinks

According to a BBC report, flavourless and colourless, methanol is hard to detect in drinks and victims typically don’t see symptoms of poisoning straight away. 

As little as 30ml – about a single shot – can be fatal to an adult, while smaller amounts can cause serious and permanent harm, including blindness.

Danger signs include vomiting, poor judgement, loss of balance, drowsiness and blurred vision.