Methanol Cocktails Leave Two Australian Women Critically ill in Thailand

[Lorry]

On 11/19/2024 at 10:56 AM, mokwit said:

Is that possible? Fermentation produces Ethanol only, otherwise you wouldn't be able to drink wine or beer.

Fermentation of fruit also gives you methanol.

Apple liquor, stuff like that. 

 

If it's whiskey containing methanol, the methanol has been added.

[Lorry]

As others have noted, insurance companies will bring almost all patients from Vang Vieng to Udon or Bangkok.

 

Hospitals in Laos are very basic. The one in Vang Vieng is a better one, new, they do have doors, glass windows, an ambulance, they can handle basic stuff - but of course, not an ICU patient. 

 

The transfer to Thailand is often slow. For example,  not every insurance is able to get a helicopter in Laos (there is one).

Methanol intoxication requires fast treatment. If the doctor in Vang Vieng doesn't dare to give iv ethanol (= normal alcohol) - he has no diagnostic means to check for methanol -  and therapy is only started in Bangkok,  the patient probably won't survive. 

 

[mokwit]

9 hours ago, Lorry said:

Fermentation of fruit also gives you methanol.

Apple liquor, stuff like that. 

 

If it's whiskey containing methanol, the methanol has been added.

Yes, thanks. After researching it seems some fermentations do produce small amounts of methanol and it is also produced in a reaction with stills made from e.g. aluminium (bootlegger type stills). In distillation you also discard the initial lighter fraction which would contain any methanol.

 

It seems it is also wittingly or unwittingly (WRT dangers) added - presumably to increase potency.

[MicroB]

At uni, I once had  summer job as a kitchen porter (KP) in a hotel; it was a horrendous job, really. For a few of the KPs, this was their life. One had pinned down several shifts at various hotels, and could get himself quite a nice little car.

 

One was a pisshead. I asked him what his idea of a good night was. His answer was he'd start with a thimble of methylated spirits, and then after that, he'd just nurse a can of Special Brew, because it saved money.

[watchcat]

On 11/18/2024 at 5:11 AM, webfact said:

Two young Australian women, believed to be about 19 years old, are critically ill after consuming cocktails suspected to be laced with methanol while on holiday in Southeast Asia.

 

They where kids, nothing else.

[black tabby12345]

Several people died of the free drink of  obscure origin.

What is the morale of this incident?

While in the 3rd world countries, only accept the kind of alcohol beverages canned and securely sealed until consumption.

Otherwise, there might be a consequence far worse than common diarrhea and food poisoning.

 

 

[Pattaya57]

2 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

Several people died of the free drink of  obscure origin.

What is the morale of this incident?

While in the 3rd world countries, only accept the kind of alcohol beverages canned and securely sealed until consumption.

Otherwise, there might be a consequence far worse than common diarrhea and food poisoning.

The shots were poured in a bar by a bartender. Who hasn't ordered a shot in a bar so pretty hard to protect against that unless you give up spirits altogether 😞

[black tabby12345]

6 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

The shots were poured in a bar by a bartender. Who hasn't ordered a shot in a bar so pretty hard to protect against that unless you give up spirits altogether 😞

 

A sort of liquor consumption associated risks. 

Jumping on something Offered Free in the Unknown Land, may not be very safe.

That's all I can say.

[Pattaya57]

16 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

A sort of liquor consumption associated risks. 

Jumping on something Offered Free in the Unknown Land, may not be very safe.

That's all I can say.

Easy to say in hindsight but what 19-20 year old would ever worry about a shot being given in a bar by a bartender?

 

Sadly in this case a 28 year old British lawyer also took the deadly shots, so seemingly not a concern to a highly educated person?

 

I for one am 59 and have travelled extensively around the World. If I'm offered a shot in a bar that's in party mode I wouldn't have thought twice about it (until this incident highlighted it to the World)

 

[black tabby12345]

26 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Easy to say in hindsight but what 19-20 year old would ever worry about a shot being given in a bar by a bartender?

 

Sadly in this case a 28 year old British lawyer also took the deadly shots, so seemingly not a concern to a highly educated person?

 

I for one am 59 and have travelled extensively around the World. If I'm offered a shot in a bar that's in party mode I wouldn't have thought twice about it (until this incident highlighted it to the World)

 

 

That incident was certainly a tragic case.

But at least, they could raise the alcohol safety concern(while abroad).

That story can teach others to Be Careful for what they take to their mouths.

So their deaths won't be in vain..

Condolences to those suddenly lost their lives.

[Scouse123]

On 11/19/2024 at 10:55 AM, Burma Bill said:

 

Thank you for your comment and true in many cases. I have witnessed empty gin and vodka bottles being refilled with a "clear" liquid (ethanol) being poured from large plastic containers. The full bottles were then put back onto the optics for use in the "happy hour" cocktail specials. I will not state the location for fear of litigation. It was a high grade hotel and not a backpackers doss house. I do not drink cocktails anywhere in this part of the World.

 

 

In my younger days I was in Spain, which used to be very famous for Happy hours and a massive hit with the Brits, I recall an incident.

 

 I saw a Spanish guy cleaning the bar top with the contents of one of these Happy hour bottles of "Vodka."

 

He told me that it was cheaper than buying actual brand named cleaning products.

 

I am a Red wine fan when I do drink and tend to buy a bottle, usually of a brand I know, when I am out and about in Cambodia.

 

In Thailand, I would buy Johnny Walker or Jameson's from the 7-11 and pay the opening charge in the bar.

 

Even up here ' in the sticks ' I have always refused Lao Khao when offered by sociable Thais.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Scouse123]

57 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Easy to say in hindsight but what 19-20 year old would ever worry about a shot being given in a bar by a bartender?

 

Sadly in this case a 28 year old British lawyer also took the deadly shots, so seemingly not a concern to a highly educated person?

 

I for one am 59 and have travelled extensively around the World. If I'm offered a shot in a bar that's in party mode I wouldn't have thought twice about it (until this incident highlighted it to the World)

 

 

 

You are spot on about hindsight.

 

My knowledge of bootleg booze and associated risks comes from a lifetime in the industry. Further insights about extremely poor quality grog comes from seeing those up in Isaarn drink it, and what it does to them.

 

Of course, people out and about in holiday mode wouldn't think for a minute they were being served up poison, and for that matter, nor would the bartender.

 

Terrible for those poor kids and their parents and family.

[KannikaP]

On 11/19/2024 at 12:28 PM, Pattaya57 said:

Geez, it's to give the reader an idea of who the victims are to add more feeling/sympathy for them. In this case two 19 year old girls just out of high school are now on life support after a Laos bar was giving out free 'vodka' shots

 

We haven't been told which schools the other poor victims attended.

[spidermike007]

On 11/19/2024 at 6:15 AM, hotchilli said:

Best to have a beer served in a bottle with the top on... remove it yourself and be safe.

I certainly understand the concept and I've said that myself, however when you're 17, 18, or 19 years old, and you're abroad for the first time, and someone offers you a cocktail or someone serves you from a punch bowl or something like that, it's very common just to drink it. We've all done that before, this was just a very freakish accident and somebody either accidentally or deliberately caused a lot of pain and a lot of mayhem.

 

I seriously doubt that it will be possible to track them down. But if they do, let us hope they are severely punished. This was such a bizarre waste of promising young lives. 

[still kicking]

On 11/23/2024 at 8:17 AM, watchcat said:

 

They where kids, nothing else.

Nonsense and what about the American who was 51 

[Jonathan Swift]

On 11/18/2024 at 9:39 PM, dinsdale said:

More likely methanol from poor distillation.

Methanol doesn’t result from poor distillation. Yeast, grain, and sugar only produce ethanol. That is what you get from distillation of those fermentedbproducts.mMethanol is produced from wood. It can be bought cheaply and is no doubt added after the distillation process.

[Jonathan Swift]

On 11/19/2024 at 7:14 AM, bbbbooboo said:

umm…. methanol is basically “methylated spirits” The alkies drink it mixed with orange cordial, and call it “steam”. 

Methanol is made by the hydrogenation  of carbon monoxide. It used to be made by fermenting wood alcohol, hence the name wood alcohol. Methanol by itself is not called methylated spirits. Methylated spirits is denatured ethyl alcohol, denatured by the addition of methyl alcohol. Rather than pure methanol, denatured alcohol can be used.

[dinsdale]

13 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Methanol doesn’t result from poor distillation. Yeast, grain, and sugar only produce ethanol. That is what you get from distillation of those fermentedbproducts.mMethanol is produced from wood. It can be bought cheaply and is no doubt added after the distillation process.

Yes methanol is produced in the fermentation process but........maybe you should watch this. As for being processed from wood, wood alcohol is simply a name that's stuck as wood was once used to produce methanol. 

 

 

[kiwikeith]

On 11/19/2024 at 3:38 PM, grain said:

I'm missing something here: How did they get back into Thailand? If they got sick in Vang Vieng and were taken to Vientiane, presumably to a hospital there, why were they flown into Thailand (Udon Thani)? If they are on life support, why would the Thais allow them into the country in that condition? These girls may die at any moment, surely the Thais don't want foreigners coming in to die a day or two later, then Thailand has to deal with all that legal formality with deceased foreigners. Why weren't they just treated at the hospital in Vientiane. Things don't add up with this story.

I think it's a credit to Thailand to get them to a decent hospital in BK because they are seriously ill, and Laos hospital probably would not be able to help them.

They are only kids, poisoned by cheap Charlie fake booze makers, trying to make 20 Bhat, its disgusting, good on you Thailand helping these poor victims of petty crime idiots. 

[KannikaP]

On 11/23/2024 at 6:58 AM, MicroB said:

At uni, I once had  summer job as a kitchen porter (KP) in a hotel; it was a horrendous job, really. For a few of the KPs, this was their life. One had pinned down several shifts at various hotels, and could get himself quite a nice little car.

 

One was a pisshead. I asked him what his idea of a good night was. His answer was he'd start with a thimble of methylated spirits, and then after that, he'd just nurse a can of Special Brew, because it saved money.

So glad you explained what a KP is. So can we have PH for Pi55head, GN for good night, MS for meths, and SB for Special Brew. Thanks. 555

[kiwikeith]

On 11/19/2024 at 10:21 AM, Keeps said:

When you see these roadside cocktail stalls knocking out a cocktail with maybe 3 or 4 shots of spirits for 60-80 baht do you really think the spirits are going to be the 'real deal'?

I suppose those that fall in to the trap think everything is cheaper in Asia, little do they know about the fake alcohol, ciggies and viagra 

I had a friend who worked for Pfizer and we were in Burma, he looked at a packet of Pfizer viagra being offered by the street sellers. 

He said that it was very hard to tell that it was fake, the packet was well copied