Avoid Getting Killed By Deadly Methanol-laced Alcoholic Drinks', New BBC Report Cautions Nigerians, Others

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

Nigerians, Kenyans and other countries have been cautioned to avoid getting killed by the rising cases of methanol poisoning linked to counterfeit alcoholic drinks.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that this health advisory and caution cane from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) was made known via a BBC report following a series of high-profile incidents, including the deaths of six tourists in Laos last year.

OTN News further reports that the expanded advisory reflects growing global concerns over the spread of toxic beverages that continue to claim lives of unsuspecting people, especially tourists around the world.

OTN News recalls that a previous report by the BBC publicised the FCDO’s methanol warning covering countries such as: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Fiji. 

However, the latest caution expands in scope to include Nigeria, Kenya, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and Uganda.

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

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

The BBC report emphasizes that, "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 added that, "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."

According to MSF, adulterated alcoholic drinks that are often produced in sub-standard ways to cut costs and maximise profits have become a global menace, and they are actually responsible for thousands of deaths annually, with fatality rates ranging between 20 and 40 percent. 

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.

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.

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.