Eight countries added to Foreign Ministry warning list

Eight countries have been added to a British Foreign Office list warning of the risks of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or contaminated alcoholic drinks.

Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda are included in updated travel guidelines following incidents involving Britons in those countries.

The advisory previously covered Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica and Fiji and follows a number of high-profile incidents, including the deaths of six tourists in Laos last year.

Travelers are advised to watch out for signs of methanol poisoning, such as blurred vision and confusion, which can lead to serious illness or even death.

Methanol is an industrial chemical found in antifreeze and windshield washer fluid. It is not intended for human consumption and is highly toxic.

But there have been cases where unscrupulous brewers added methanol to their drinks to make them go further, and some bars and street vendors mixed it with spirits drinks and cocktails to cut costs.

The Foreign Office has launched a new advertising campaign and updated its travel advice pages to include information on recognizing symptoms and reducing the risk of methanol poisoning.

British nationals traveling abroad are advised to purchase sealed drinks from approved establishments, avoid home-made alcohol and pre-mixed spirits, cocktails and drinks served in buckets or jugs.

Travelers are advised to watch out for warning signs of poisoning, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion. Experts say early-stage methanol poisoning can resemble alcohol poisoning, but distinctive symptoms, such as vision problems, can develop between 12 and 48 hours after consumption.

People experiencing signs of methanol poisoning should seek emergency medical attention immediately.

The Foreign Office has not released any details of specific incidents in any of the new countries on the warning list.

But Morgan, a Briton who contacted BBC Newsbeat about a recent visit to Japan, said her experience in bars suggested tourists were unaware of the potential risks.

“The offer would be ‘come have a free drink with me – we have tequila, we have vodka,'” she said.

“Obviously you take their word for it. It’s quite dangerous in that sense. There were plenty of other tourists just taking pictures, drinking, not seeing where the bottle came from.”

Last month, campaigners and families of some Britons who died or were injured following methanol poisoning abroad met members of the travel industry and MPs in Parliament.

Among them was Calum Macdonald, who was traveling in Laos when he suffered methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng and was left blind.

The 23-year-old from Sunbury-on-Thames said: “I think it’s important for people to know, obviously, because it’s a simple piece of information that you can get and can really save you a lot of trouble.

“I certainly think that if I had been aware of the risks, I would not be here today without my vision.”

Hamish Falconer, Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Crises, said: “Methanol poisoning can kill. It can be difficult to detect while drinking and the initial symptoms resemble those of ordinary alcohol poisoning. By the time travelers realize the danger, it may be too late.

He added: “No family should have to endure what the campaigners’ families have suffered. Their determination to prevent others from facing the same tragedy has been instrumental in our vitally updated travel advice.”