Doctor issues plea for ‘better education’ on methanol after suspected mass poisoning
A leading pharmacy expert has called for “better education” about methanol poisoning risks following the deaths of six tourists in Laos.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, stressed the importance of raising awareness, particularly among young travellers.
Speaking to GB News Chief executive for Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies Dr Leyla Hannbeck said: “There has to be a better education, particularly amongst the young people, that in some parts of the world these things can happen.
“So when they go abroad, they need to be careful in terms of when they go and whether these places are reputable and are using reputable alcohol that is not laced with anything else.
“Education is an important factor in this, but also it all comes back to raising alarms and awareness.”
The urgent plea comes after a suspected mass methanol poisoning at a backpacker hostel in Vang Vieng claimed multiple lives.
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The Doctor added: “”Small amounts can be causing severe damages and even death, as we’ve seen.
“It comes back to making sure that when abroad, remembering that there could be these risks and making sure that where you go and drink that this place is not somewhere where there could be these risks and just cautious.
“How do you protect yourself other than just not drinking, not going to those places? It’s very difficult.
“They just want to make it more potent by adding more alcohol to it and in a cheap way.
“Unfortunately, you know, there’s no way to distinguish because they look very similar.
“The only way that you would know is when you’ve actually been poisoned. So education and awareness about this is very important, particularly in young people.”
Simone White, 28, from Orpington, south-east London, was among six tourists who died after drinking alcohol suspected to be laced with methanol.
White, described as a “talented” lawyer by her employer Squire Patton Boggs, had been staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.
The other victims included two Australian teenagers, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, along with an American man and two Danish women aged 19 and 20.
Police in Laos have detained the hostel’s manager and owner while investigating the incident.
The victims are believed to have been served drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes used by disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol.
Squire Patton Boggs said in a statement: “Simone was a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomised our firm’s values.”