UK Cautions Nigeria, Others Over Deadly Methanol-laced Alcohol Drinks

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has cautioned Nigeria, Kenya, and six other countries over rising cases of methanol poisoning linked to counterfeit alcoholic drinks.

The expanded advisory reflects growing global concern over the spread of toxic beverages that continue to claim lives across several regions.

According to a BBC report, the caution follows a series of high-profile incidents, including the deaths of six tourists in Laos last year.

Previously, the FCDO’s methanol warning covered countries such as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Fiji. It has now been broadened to include Nigeria, Kenya, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and Uganda.

Methanol — an industrial chemical commonly found in antifreeze and windscreen washer fluids — is not inherently toxic, but becomes dangerous when ingested.

“Only when it is ingested into the body does it become poisonous, such that formic acids and their anion formates become health risks,” according to a report from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

BBC reports further explain that the danger often emerges hours after consumption, as the liver attempts to metabolise the substance. “The harm in consuming these poisonous methanol-laced alcohol happens hours later as the body attempts to clear it from the body by breaking it down in the liver,” the report notes.

“This metabolism creates toxic by-products called formaldehyde, formate and formic acid. These build up, attacking nerves and organs which can lead to blindness, coma and death,” it adds.

Health experts warn that adulterated alcoholic drinks — often produced illicitly to cut costs and maximise profits — have become a global menace.

According to MSF, such counterfeit brews account for thousands of deaths annually, with fatality rates ranging between 20 and 40 percent.

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The FCDO’s expanded alert underscores an urgent need for governments and consumers alike to strengthen monitoring systems, raise awareness, and ensure safer alcohol consumption practices, especially in countries where informal or unregulated markets thrive.

Signs to look out for

In cases of methanol poisoning, victims may experience symptoms such as blurred vision, breathing difficulties, brain damage, coma, and even death.

Experts note that in its early stages, methanol poisoning can mimic ordinary alcohol intoxication. However, distinctive warning signs, particularly visual disturbances, typically appear 12 to 48 hours after consumption, according to BBC reports.
What to do if poisoned

Travellers are being urged to remain vigilant for early warning signs of methanol poisoning, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and confusion, and to seek immediate medical attention if any symptoms occur, according to BBC reports.

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The advisory further cautioned tourists to purchase only sealed alcoholic beverages from licensed outlets and to avoid homemade brews, pre-mixed spirits, and drinks served in buckets or jugs, which are more likely to contain toxic levels of methanol.

While methanol itself is a common industrial compound, it becomes deadly when ingested — often as a result of illicit alcohol producers using it to cut costs and boost profits. Health experts estimate that thousands of people worldwide are poisoned by methanol each year, with fatality rates in outbreaks ranging from 20 percent to 40 percent.

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