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

BANGKOK (AP) – Two Australian teenagers and a British woman died of suspected methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos. An American man and two Danes also died, but their exact causes of death have not been released. A New Zealander has also fallen ill. The US State Department issued a warning to travelers to be “alert to the potential risk of methanol poisoning.” But what is methanol and how to avoid it?

What is methanol?

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

What happens if you ingest methanol?

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

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

“Individuals vary in their response to methanol,” said toxicologist Alastair Hay of Britain’s University of Leeds. “Some will be able to tolerate more than others because we all have variation in our enzymes’ capacity to detoxify. But small amounts … can be fatal for individuals; others can survive a little longer.”

Why should it be in beverages if it is not intended for consumption?

Methanol is sometimes deliberately added by unscrupulous bars to mixed drinks to give them more “kick” and to save money on using more expensive ethanol-based spirits like vodka or rum. This practice is not specific to Laos or Southeast Asia, but occurs wherever taxes on legal alcohol or the cost of legal 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 in home-brewed distilleries without strict controls—often found in poorer countries—it can end up in the mix.

How do you avoid methanol poisoning?

The answer is simple: don’t drink it.

But it is colorless, odorless and tasteless, so it can be quite a challenge.

In guidance issued after the Laos poisonings, the UK Foreign Office recommends only buying alcoholic drinks from licensed liquor stores, only buying drinks from licensed bars and hotels, always checking that bottle seals are intact, and checking labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling.

The Methanol Institute notes that beverages such as canned beer, cider, wine, pre-mix and duty-free products tend to be safer and less easy to counterfeit.

It also urges people to be wary of home brews and free drinks or drinks priced way below normal.

___

Associated Press reporter Jerry Harmer contributed to this story.