Teenage Backpacker and 3 Others Die After Drinking Tainted Alcohol in Popular Tourist Town

Mar. 15, 2025

Vang Vieng, Laos, a popular tourist town that’s been the site of multiple methanol-related poisonings and deaths.Photo:Oleksandr Rupeta/NurPhoto via Getty

Oleksandr Rupeta/NurPhoto via Getty

Four people have died — including a teenager — after drinking alcohol that authorities say was tainted withmethanol.

An American, two Danish tourists, and a 19-year old from Australia — Bianca Jones — have died, while multiple people were sickened in Vang Vieng, a town popular with backpackers and tourists in Laos, theAssociated Presssays.

Jones’ cause of death was listed as “brain swelling due to high levels ofmethanolfound in her system,” theAPsays.

A friend who was traveling with Jones, Holly Bowles, 19, remains on life support and is in critical condition.

Stock image of alcohol bottles.Getty

Getty

While methanol can be inadvertently produced during the brewing process,The Guardiansays it’s often illegally added to drinks to help increase the alcohol content.

It’s a colorless, watery liquid, according to theU.S. Centers for Disease Control, and symptoms of methanol poisoning resemble over-consumption of alcohol, like nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and vomiting.

“Fatal cases often present with fast heart rate (tachycardia) or slow heart rate (bradycardia) and an increased rate of respiration,” the CDC says. “Low blood pressure (hypotension) and respiratory arrest occur when death is imminent.”

According to the AP, it’s often added to mixed drinks to lower the bar’s alcohol costs.

Stock image of mixed drinks.Getty

“Drink spikingand methanol poisoning are far too common in many parts of the world,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said after receiving news of Jones’ death, theAPsays.

Wong’s statement continued: “At this time I would say to parents, to young people, please have a conversation about risks, please inform yourselves, please let’s work together to ensure this tragedy doesn’t happen again.”

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source: people.com