Three tourists who drank cocktails in Laos died, two in critical condition
Nov 21, 2024
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According to foreign media such as ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald, two Danish women in their 20s and a 56-year-old U.S. tourist died last week after drinking a cocktail at a hostel bar in Bangbieng, Laos. According to a police investigation, methanol was detected in the cocktails they drank. At least 14 tourists were estimated to have complained of pain after drinking the cocktail, according to authorities.
About 10 people are currently being treated in hospitals, and two teenage women from Australia are in a general hospital in Thailand due to their serious conditions. Authorities and tourists suspect that the vodka used to make cocktails may have been mixed with methanol.
However, the hostel denies the connection.
The hostel manager said vodka was offered free of charge to more than 100 other guests as a welcome sign, while others claimed there was no health problem. The vodka in question was distilled in southern Vientiane at 40 degrees of alcohol.
He stressed that he hopes the police investigation will clear him of his false accusation.
On the other hand, methanol is a colorless and combustible industrial liquid that smells like alcohol similar to ethanol and is sometimes used to manufacture 'fake alcohol'.
According to the Methanol Institute in Australia, drinking only 25 to 90 ml of methanol can be fatal.
Drinking alcohol or beverages containing methanol can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and can lead to temporary or permanent blindness and loss of life.
bellho@sportschosun.com
