What is methanol and why might it be in tourists’ drinks?

An American and two Danes also died, but the exact causes of their deaths have not been announced. One New Zealander also fell ill.

The US State Department issued a warning to travelers to be “aware of the potential risk of methanol poisoning”. But what is methanol and how to avoid it?

There are three main types of alcohol: ethanol, methanol and isopropyl.

Ethanol is what is found in alcoholic beverages and is the only one intended for consumption.

Isopropanol is the main ingredient of alcohol and hand sanitizers.

Methanol, commonly called wood alcohol because it is a byproduct of wood distillation, is often used as a fuel and in products such as antifreeze and solvents.

What happens if you consume methanol?

According to the Methanol Institute, a global trade association for the industry, drinking as little as 25 to 90 milliliters of methanol can be fatal without proper medical treatment, but can be successfully treated if caught early.

Methanol poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness and decreased consciousness, including coma, seizures, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and a number of other symptoms, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.

The CDC recommends that you seek immediate medical attention if methanol poisoning is suspected.

“Individuals differ in their response to methanol,” said toxicologist Alastair Hay of the UK’s University of Leeds.

“Some will be able to tolerate more than others because we all have variability in the capacity of our detoxification enzymes. But small amounts … can be fatal for individuals; others can survive a little longer.”

Why would it be in drinks if it is not for consumption?

Unscrupulous bars sometimes deliberately add methanol to mixed drinks to give them more “kick” and to save money on using more expensive ethanol-based spirits such as vodka or rum.

The practice is not specific to Laos or Southeast Asia, but occurs wherever taxes on legal alcohol or the price of legal alcohol are deemed too high, according to the Methanol Institute.

Methanol is also a normal product of the distillation process that produces ethanol, and in unregulated homebrew distilleries — often found in poorer countries — it can end up in the mix.

How to avoid methanol poisoning?

The answer is simple: don’t drink it.

But it is colorless, odorless and tasteless, so it can be a real challenge.

In guidance issued after the Laos poisoning, the British Foreign Office recommends buying alcoholic drinks only from licensed liquor stores, buying drinks only from licensed bars and hotels, always checking that bottle seals are intact and checking labels for poor print quality or incorrect writing.

The Methanol Institute notes that beverages such as canned beer, cider, wine, premix and duty-free products are safer and less easily counterfeited.

It also urges people to be careful with home brews and free drinks or drinks priced far below normal.