The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has expanded its methanol poisoning warnings to include eight additional countries, among them Nigeria, Kenya, Japan, Mexico, and Uganda, following an increase in deaths and serious illnesses caused by contaminated alcoholic drinks.
The FCDO said the warning aims to protect British travelers amid rising cases of methanol poisoning in popular destinations. Methanol, an industrial alcohol commonly used in products such as antifreeze and paint thinners, is sometimes illegally mixed with spirit-based beverages to reduce costs. Even a small amount can cause blindness or death within 12 to 48 hours of consumption.
Officials noted that the substance is both tasteless and odourless, making it nearly impossible for unsuspecting travellers to detect.