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Travellers heading abroad have been warned by the Foreign Office of an increase in cases of serious illness and death caused by alcoholic drinks contaminated with methanol. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has now included eight new countries in its list where British travellers could be at risk of methanol poisoning, including Mexico and Japan. Methanol is a form of alcohol generally used in a wide variety of industrial products, such as paint thinners and antifreeze. The FCDO has highlighted, though, that it is sometimes mixed with spirit-based drinks and cocktails illegally at some overseas establishments to cut costs. The chemical is also tasteless and odourless, making it effectively impossible for holidaymakers to tell if they're ingesting methanol until it's too late. Because of this, British travellers are being urged by the Foreign Office to take extra precautions when purchasing and drinking alcohol while abroad. Minister responsible for Consular and Crisis, Hamish Falconer, said: "Methanol poisoning can kill - it can be difficult to detect when drinking and early symptoms mirror ordinary alcohol poisoning. By the time travellers realise the danger, it can be too late. "That’s why we’re working hard to raise awareness of the warning signs and urging anyone who suspects methanol poisoning to seek immediate medical attention. I encourage all travellers to check our travel advice and Travel Aware pages before they go on holiday. "No family should endure what the campaigners’ families have suffered. Their determination to prevent others from facing the same tragedy has been instrumental in driving forward these vital updates to our travel advice." Even a small amount of methanol consumption can cause symptoms to appear between 12 and 48 hours after consumption. Methanol poisoning can also result in death, so it's important to be aware of any early signs that could potentially save your life. Symptoms of methanol poisoning include: If you are abroad and experience any of the above symptoms after drinking alcohol, it's vital that you seek urgent medical attention, as this could prevent serious complications or even save your life. The FCDO advises calling for emergency help or going to the nearest hospital. If you have ingested methanol, doctors will likely provide you with an antidote such as ethanol or fomepizole. This can help stop methanol from turning toxic in your body. You may also be given dialysis, which can flush out the methanol from your body and potentially fix damage caused by ingesting it. Foreign Office advice highlights that treatment for methanol poisoning is most effective within 10 to 30 hours of drinking methanol.
