"Travellers are advised to watch out for signs of methanol poisoning such as blurry vision and confusion, which can lead to serious illness and death. Methanol is an industrial chemical found in antifreeze and windscreen washer fluid. It is not meant for human consumption and is highly toxic. But there have been instances of unscrupulous backyard brewers adding methanol to drinks to make them go further, and some bars and street sellers mixing it with spirit-based drinks and cocktails to cut costs."
"The Foreign Office has begun a new advertising campaign and updated its travel advice pages to include information on recognising symptoms and reducing risks of methanol poisoning. British nationals going abroad are advised to purchase sealed drinks from licensed establishments, avoid homemade alcohol and pre-mixed spirits, cocktails and drinks served in buckets or jugs. Travellers are advised to watch out for warning signs of poisoning, which include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion."
Eight countries — Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda — were added to a UK Foreign Office list warning of methanol poisoning risk from counterfeit or tainted alcoholic drinks. The warning supplements guidance already covering several Asian and other destinations. Methanol is an industrial chemical found in antifreeze and windscreen washer fluid and is highly toxic and not for human consumption. Unscrupulous brewers and some bars or street sellers have mixed methanol into drinks to cut costs. Travellers are advised to buy sealed drinks from licensed establishments and avoid homemade, pre-mixed or bucket-served alcohol. Early methanol poisoning can mimic alcohol intoxication; vision problems often develop 12-48 hours later. Anyone with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion or vision loss should seek urgent medical care.
Read at www.bbc.com
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