BREAKING NEWS British lawyer latest to fall in Laos alcohol poisoning tragedy

[spidermike007]

There's a fairly simple moral to this story, don't order cocktails when in Laos! Drink beer only from a bottle that you can open yourself or that you can watch a bartender opening, or drink wine that you have purchased on your own.

 

Avoid cocktails like they contain the bubonic plague. Unless you mixed them yourself from a sealed bottle. 

[BKKBike09]

19 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

25 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

RIP to those poor people.

 

Vang Vieng has become a version of Koh Phangnan / Koh Tao / Khaosan Road all rolled into one. Sadly, rich people in Laos also have the same level of immunity as their Thai counterparts. Perhaps more so because many of them have got rich through tight links with certain ministers / Politburo members, rather than through general biz.

 

Indeed.  The corruption in Laos is even worse than in Thailand!

Indeed it is. I lived there in the mid 90s, when at least the corruption was "reasonable" - want to build a dam? Minister needs a Land Cruiser. By the 2000s it was Minister's kid needs to be educated overseas and a new house would be nice. Now it's even worse thanks to the Chinese criminal money.

 

There's also very heavy State control of the media. I dredged up my Lao and did some searches just now for articles about this in Lao language and there's zip. Only RFA and some anti-gov FaceBook news channel. 

 

 

[mokwit]

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

That’s a rather Dandy flounce.

 

 

It is the kind of look you give someone when you have conclusively trounced their arguments. HTH.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Because regulations prevent this kind of tragedy happening elsewhere.

A regulation that is not enforced is pointless, I think you can work that out.

 

 

Perhaps you should have made your point about enforcing existing laws then?

 

Because the "importance of regulations" you referred to are clearly already in place.

 

Hope you can work that out.

 

 

[Ajarnbrian]

Laos is a beautiful country. The tragedy happened in Vang Vieng, where other young travellers have died over the past decade or so. Avoid the place, go to other destinations in Laos, stick to a bottle of Beer Lao.

[Dear Triangle]

So the victims were either poisoned by a rapist or they all happened to have consumed some drinks that contained methanol, which was either a free drink or drinks that they purchased from the same place.

 

Or could it have been something along the lines of the snake blood scene from "the beach"

 

 

 

 

 

 

[VR333]

Sadly, Holly Bowles has now passed away  

 

https://7news.com.au/news/laos-methanol-poisoning-victim-holly-bowles-dies-in-thailand-hospital-a-day-after-best-friend-bianca-jones-c-16840415

[Cabradelmar]

3 hours ago, TofuHead said:

How come most of the victims are female?  Are men more resistant to methanol?

Ladies night... free drinks for the ladies... who knows, but its not uncommon for the barman to give ladies preference and ply them with cheap/free alcohol. 

[LittleBear57]

A few years ago our bar in Bangkok was offered bootleg spirits. We always refused but many didn't. Spirits in bars everywhere in this part of the world may be fake, you have no idea what could be in there. Drink beer that you open yourself, no money to be made in faking beer.

Last month myself and the family were in Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Lovely place but corruption exists and bars can make a big profit with mixers and fake spirits.

So sad for the girls who just were there for the thrills in Laos and had a drink laced with poison. Beware it could happen anywhere in this part of the world. It would be nice if those responsible were severely punished. Lives taken away from them before they barely got going. RIP.

[simon43]

I recall visiting this hostel a few months ago when I lived in Laos.  I ate lunch there.  It seemed a very popular place for young foreign tourists.  Clean, well-run, no sign of anything 'dubious' etc.

 

I suspect the authorities know exactly what's happened and by whom, and are scurrying to hide the evidence and brush everything under the carpet...

[Kinok Farang]

3 hours ago, TofuHead said:

How come most of the victims are female?  Are men more resistant to methanol?

No, but women are more prone to taking free drinks.

[mokwit]

3 minutes ago, Kinok Farang said:

No, but women are more prone to taking free drinks.

I think you meant: women are more prone to BEING OFFERED free drinks.

[Homburg]

32 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Avoid cocktails like they contain the bubonic plague. Unless you mixed them yourself from a sealed bottle. 

 

Could that actually be the source of the problem here?  All the fingers are pointing to "free shots" and "spiked drinks", but perhaps this was a sealed bottle, with a very convincing appearance, bought by one of the tourists in the Vang Vieng night market or similar and which was shared when the free shots ran out?

[Andycoops]

Drinker beware, if it's free, is too good to be true.

 

Here in Thailand the local hooch Lao Khao is often associated with unsavoury incidents of murder, rape and all sorts of crimes, even more so when consumed with meth.

 

It's so cheap but hardly ever gets a price hike like other alcoholic beverages, mainly because it's consumed in large quantities in rural areas like Isaan, that have the largest voting population by region.

 

So politics rules over citizens health...

TiT.

 

RiP to the innocent victims of someone's evil profiteering.

[kiwikeith]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Apparently, this all kicked off around November 10th.

The first victims fell ill shortly after that with the Aussie girls being hospitalised on the 13th.

Not sure when the Danes passed away (they were the first), but is seems that the Laos police did nothing to investigate this until it was raised at government level earlier this week.

Makes the Thai police almost look proactive.

RIP youngsters. So sad.

No matter what, the people involved in this are mass murderers, who have ruined peoples lives and created misery .

They should be rounded up and sentenced to death.

[PETERTHEEATER]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson grieved alongside her family, confirming her untimely death yesterday, November 21.

Really? Will the flags of Uks diplomatic missions abroad be flying at half mast?

[snoop1130]

Second Australian teen falls victim to Laos poisoning tragedy

 

 

The unbearable heartache continues for the family of an Australian teen after she tragically died today following a horrific methanol poisoning incident in Laos. Her passing takes the death toll to six.

 

Teenage Holly Bowles passed away in a Thai hospital today, November 22, just a day after her best friend, Bianca Jones, also 19 years old, succumbed to the same fate.

 

Bowles’ devastated family shared the heartbreaking news this afternoon.

 

“It is with broken hearts and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace.”

 

The Bowles family found solace in the joy and happiness she brought to everyone around her, celebrating the adventurous spirit that led her to explore Southeast Asia, make new friends, and create cherished memories.

 

Her proud parents recalled how she was always an amazing big sister to James and expressed their gratitude.

 

 

“We would like to thank everyone from back home, in Canada and around the world for the love and support that Holly and our family have received.”

 

Holly and Bianca, both from Melbourne, were living the dream on a long-anticipated gap year adventure. Unfortunately, their once-thrilling journey turned into a nightmare when they, along with other unsuspecting tourists, fell critically ill after consuming tainted drinks in the picturesque yet perilous town of Vang Vieng.

 

Both girls began feeling unwell on Wednesday, November 13 and were urgently whisked away to separate hospitals in Bangkok. Tragically, Bianca’s life support was switched off yesterday, as her family made the agonising decision after medical options were exhausted.

 

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away.”

 

They took comfort in knowing her vibrant spirit left an indelible mark on many lives.

 

Thai government officials confirmed Bianca suffered from “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.” Her family is making arrangements to bring her home, although the ongoing police investigation may cause delays.

 

The death toll from this tragic event has now climbed to six. Thai officials confirmed earlier today that 28 year old British lawyer Simone White had also died. This follows the deaths of two Danish women and an American man, previously acknowledged by officials in their respective countries.

 

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned about the dangers of drink spiking and methanol poisoning, which remain “far too common in many parts of the world.” She urged parents and young people to have conversations about these risks and stay informed, hoping to prevent such senseless tragedies from occurring again, reported The Western Australian.

 

As the world watches in grief, the young lives lost serve as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface of international travel.

 

By Bob Scott

Picture courtesy of The Daily Mirror

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-22

 

 

[Toby1947]

5 hours ago, Hardcastle P said:

By the sounds of things Laos needs to be put on the list of unsafe countries to visit.  Cancel all flights until the perpetrators are caught an behind bar's, compensation paid the the relatives. 

Halfwit, nuff said 

[zackxx]

Lao khao  เหล้าขาว (Thai) or ເຫຼົ້າຂາວ (Laotian) translated into English is "white spirit" and distilling  in Thailand must be licensed under the Criminal Activities Act which was introduced in the 1950s. This regulation was passed after a spate of lao khao of poor quality being produced, which resulted in methanol related poisoning. The methanol was produced as a by-product of the spirits reacting with tin and aluminium stills used. The metals were switched out with stainless steel when the Thai government took over all distilleries by 1960. Not sure what the story is in Lao.

[steven100]

oh dear '  this reminds me of the Thai Half moon parties on the beach.   

 

Who in their right mind would induce anything made up in the back shed by Somchai Nongkawat....

 

very sad indeed,   but preventable with just one ounce of common sense .... 

 

life can be very fragile with the wrong decision being taken.  

 

 

rip those poor soles ... 

 

 

 

 

 

[0ffshore360]

Not dissimilar to methanol poisoning events in Bali due to consumption of home brew styled spirits.

Blended in appropriate amounts with real ethanol is less lethal but still damaging.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, LittleBear57 said:

A few years ago our bar in Bangkok was offered bootleg spirits. We always refused but many didn't. Spirits in bars everywhere in this part of the world may be fake, you have no idea what could be in there. Drink beer that you open yourself, no money to be made in faking beer.

Last month myself and the family were in Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Lovely place but corruption exists and bars can make a big profit with mixers and fake spirits.

So sad for the girls who just were there for the thrills in Laos and had a drink laced with poison. Beware it could happen anywhere in this part of the world. It would be nice if those responsible were severely punished. Lives taken away from them before they barely got going. RIP.

 

Bootleg liquor is rife in Bangkok... 

When out there is only 'so much beers' that can be consumed and I'm too full. 

I switch to neat Whisky (JW black on ice or something similar) I can tell when its fake booze - the owners never care - I don't make a scene, I just pay and leave...

.. but, its annoying - the fake stuff can give a more exaggerated hangover which I don't get when drinking the same amounts beers / wine / Whisky with friends at my house or theirs.... 

 

From a personal perspective its just flipping annoying - but clearly from this perspective it can be deadly.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, steven100 said:

very sad but preventable with just one ounce of common sense .... 

 

Is it ?.. have you never ordered a Gin&Tonic, Whisky, Vodka Coke in a bar over here ?

Never ordered a cocktail ?... Only ever drink beer ????

 

Are you certain that 'your ounce' of common sense give you a 100% guarantee that you'll never risk drinking bootlegged liquor ?

 

... Of course not, which is why your response is sanctimonious tosh... 

[Tropicalevo]

6 minutes ago, 0ffshore360 said:

Not dissimilar to methanol poisoning events in Bali due to consumption of home brew styled spirits.

Blended in appropriate amounts with real ethanol is less lethal but still damaging.

it's not a 'home brewed' spirit.

It is distilled under licence of the authorities.

Mind you, no one knows that happens after they open the bottle,.

Also, the youngsters seem to have been drinking in more than one establishment.

[freedomnow]

Generally such a dodgy dump of a town.

 

Am sure me and a friend got spiked or dodgy alcohol there in last 5 years. We were both so zoned out on so little. He said much the same.

[Shocked farang]

4 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Have a friend who come to Thailand to meet with me 12 years ago,. After one month he decided to make a trip to Laos. He was poisoned after meet and spend a night with a lady. When Hotel noticed that he had not left the room in the morning, an  employee found him unconscious in bed,  calling the police and the ambulance. Nearly dead, he spent two weeks in Hospital with a diagnosis of poisoning and.. managing to fly back to Bangkok for recover. He spent another week at my house and returned home. He remember NOTHING about that night except the lack of some money in his wallet, a gold neck chain and his watch.

This is a different situation, the lady purposely poisoned his drink to knock him down and then steal his belongings. 

This is a well known tatic among criminal whores. 

[steven100]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Is it ?.. have you never ordered a Gin&Tonic, Whisky, Vodka Coke in a bar over here ?

Never ordered a cocktail ?... Only ever drink beer ????

 

Are you certain that 'your ounce' of common sense give you a 100% guarantee that you'll never risk drinking bootlegged liquor ?

 

... Of course not, which is why your response is sanctimonious tosh... 

so am I going to get tainted beer or spirits from drinking at my local established registered farang bar ?

 

no,   I didn't think so .....  

[Tropicalevo]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

so am I going to get tainted beer or spirits from drinking at my local established registered farang bar ?

 

no,   I didn't think so .....  

Maybe but not likely.

I had friends running a pub some 20+ years ago on Samui.

On a border run to Burma, I bought a couple of bottles of Johnny Waler Blue label. About 150 baht each.

It tasted so close to the real stuff that the boys sold it to punters. At a much reduced price of course.

[0ffshore360]

1 minute ago, Tropicalevo said:

it's not a 'home brewed' spirit.

It is distilled under licence of the authorities.

Mind you, no one knows that happens after they open the bottle,.

Also, the youngsters seem to have been drinking in more than one establishment.

In years past in night clubs I have been presented  with bogus Jamesons which unless using close scrutiny of the bottle etching in good light passes as genuine easily. It is drinkable but not pure .

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, steven100 said:

so am I going to get tainted beer or spirits from drinking at my local established registered farang bar ?

no,   I didn't think so .....  

 

Thats the 'only' place you have ever drank spirits at in South East Asia...   Hmm...   

 

.... Smells rather faecal...         

 

You've stated your claim... why not double down with BS to save face... 

 

-----------

 

And, the primary point is... Its very normal for people to order spirits in a bar...  its not quite the breach of 'common sense' you suggest....

... Monday morning quarterbacking this news and laying the blame at the feet of the deceased for not exercising common sense is rather poor form.