Foreign Office warning urgently extended to eight more countries

Holidaymakers heading overseas have been alerted by the Foreign Office about a surge in severe illness and fatalities linked to alcoholic beverages laced with methanol. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has now added eight additional nations to its list of where British tourists might face methanol poisoning risks, including Mexico and Japan.

Methanol represents a type of alcohol typically used across numerous industrial applications, including paint thinners and antifreeze. However, the FCDO has emphasised that it is occasionally blended illegally with spirit-based beverages and cocktails at certain overseas venues to reduce expenses.

The substance is also without taste or smell, rendering it virtually undetectable for tourists until it proves too late. Consequently, the Foreign Office is pressing British holidaymakers to exercise heightened caution when buying and consuming alcohol while travelling.

Hamish Falconer, Minister responsible for Consular and Crisis, said: "Methanol poisoning can kill - it can be difficult to detect when drinking and early symptoms mirror ordinary alcohol poisoning. By the time travellers realise the danger, it can be too late.

"That's why we're working hard to raise awareness of the warning signs and urging anyone who suspects methanol poisoning to seek immediate medical attention. I encourage all travellers to check our travel advice and Travel Aware pages before they go on holiday.

"No family should endure what the campaigners' families have suffered. Their determination to prevent others from facing the same tragedy has been instrumental in driving forward these vital updates to our travel advice."

Symptoms of methanol poisoning

Even a small amount of methanol consumption can cause symptoms to appear between 12 and 48 hours after consumption. Methanol poisoning can also result in death, so it's important to be aware of any early signs that could potentially save your life.

Symptoms of methanol poisoning include:

• Vomiting
• Loss of balance
• Drowsiness
• Poor judgment
• Vertigo
• Abdominal pain
• Hyperventilation
• Breathlessness
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty looking at bright lights
• Tunnel vision
• 'Snowfield vision' - seeing snowy static, similar to old TV static
• Blindness
• Coma
• Convulsions

What to do if you suspect you have methanol poisoning

If you are travelling abroad and develop any of these symptoms after consuming alcohol, it's essential that you seek immediate medical attention, as this could prevent serious complications or even save your life.

The FCDO recommends calling for emergency assistance or heading to the nearest hospital.

Should you have consumed methanol, medics will likely administer an antidote such as ethanol or fomepizole.

This can help prevent methanol from becoming toxic within your body. Dialysis may also be administered, which can cleanse your body of the methanol and potentially repair any damage caused by its ingestion.

The Foreign Office emphasises that treatment for methanol poisoning is most effective within a 10 to 30-hour window post-consumption.