crellston

Six backpackers, including Aussie, Kiwi, US and British have died in Vang Vien, Laos. See https://www.theguardian.com/australi...isation-ntwnfb . Apparently the bar in question had been lacing cocktails with methanol.

Our nieces passed through there early this year on the gap year trip. Of all the things we warned them of before they left, this was not one of them. It is not uncommon in other parts of Asia - it has happened in Bali, Thailand etc. If any of you have young family travelling in Asia warn them to be on their guard in back-packer hangouts offering cheap cocktails.

MmePerdu

Not just "backpacker hangouts." Someone I knew died after her own wedding reception in Bali, her new husband a Balinese man & the moonshine presumably provided by people the family knew.

Home brew is served all over, to residents & visitors alike. Best not to partake in this particular cultural activity. I've had some in Laos myself in an off-the beaten-path local drinking spot. I'm sure those serving it are mostly unaware when they've got a bad batch & mean no harm. Best to drink from sealed bottles of commercially produced beverages, even if you think you may offend your host. This is a real thing.

LAX_Esq

This part is unclear, and the article you posted doesn't say this. The hostel/bar owner is claiming innocence: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ced-shots.html

The alcohol could have been tainted before it reached the hostel, or it could have been someone at the hostel. I've read several articles on this story, and I haven't read anything showing there's evidence either way as to who is at fault. I think anything is possible.

That being said, whatever party is at fault, it's a terrible story...

kja

So sad. Thanks for bringing attention to this issue.

crellston

Lax, I linked only one of numerous articles about this tragedy. Some named the place, some went into more detail. FWIW the Mail has a terrible reputation in the UK usually with only a tenuous link to the facts of anything it is reporting. As for the owner denying knowledge- what a surprise!

M Perdue- I don’t think this case is related to homebrew/ moonshine which is very common in the villages all over Laos and is distilled from fermented rice wine. I believe is is all about cocktails using methanol (used in car anti freeze and other industrial processes) and is very cheap, in order to attract backpackers .

kja - a tragedy indeed. It seems to be making the news everywhere. Hopefully travellers will see reports ( and stick to beer! )

MmePerdu

Yes, methanol. No, not just backpacker bars.

https://www.myheraldreview.com/bisbe...a87ba7b79.html

zebec

Merci beaucoup Crellston, for this valuable link plus your extra comments. What a way to go.
And what a horrible phone call for loved ones.
I am done. the end

LAX_Esq

Again, can you link to an article that actually backs up your suggestion that the hostel is the party at fault? I've read several articles from various sources, as have you. I didn't see a single article in any source with credible information about who is at fault. I know the Mail is a sensational tabloid, but they're not making any claims in any direction as to who is at fault. I'm curious where you're getting your information that the hostel is the guilty party, as opposed to someone else.

LAX_Esq

Further to my previous post, here's a BBC article pointing out that it's generally hard to tell who is at fault in these cases and suggesting that it's generally more likely to be the producer's fault than the bar's fault: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cde7j9j76x0o

So I wouldn't be so quick to blame the hostel owner, especially without credible sources reporting evidence that he's at fault.

jacketwatch

Thank you Crellston for informing us of this.

crellston

You are welcome zebec and jacketwatch. Yes it must have been a terrible phone call for those parents to receive and I am very thankful that it wasn't my brother in law that was took one of those phone calls.

Latest reports are that the hostel owner has now been arrested. Of course the owner is at fault, either entirely or partially, it is they that supplied the drinks that

LAX , such a shame that you feel the need to embark upon some sort of points scoring/b;ame allocation on such a serious issue. Having looked back at a few of your previous posts, I cant say I am surprised as you do seem to make a habit of being deliberately confrontational and argumentative. Sorry but I just cannot be bothered to engage, I have much better things to do.

LAX_Esq

I'm not familiar with the Laotian justice system, and I doubt you are either, but in the US, a bartender who served guests a sealed bottle of Gray Goose vodka that happened to be poison (unbeknownst to him) wouldn't be one bit liable.

I too have seen reports that the hotel owner has been arrested. That doesn't mean it's the hotel, not the supplier, who is responsible for the methanol. We don't know what evidence the government has against him, or even what level of evidence the government needs to have to effectuate an arrest in Laos. For all we know, it could be a "round up the usual suspects" situation. They might have something on him. Or they might not. Who knows.

It's premature at this point to make conclusions. With UK and Australian citizens dead and those governments hopefully watching over the investigation, I would hope that the local authorities will conduct a serious and speedy investigation and we will soon know the truth. Until then, let's not make judgments.

You're the one who allocated blame to the hostel: "Apparently the bar in question had been lacing cocktails with methanol." I'm the one saying there's not yet evidence to allocate blame.

There's no reason for you to make this personal. Let's just stick to the facts. You made a serious accusation against the hostel, which is totally unsupported by any media report that I've read and you haven't brought forward any of your own support for your serious accusation.

I'm not looking to fight with you. I just think people reading this should know it's not necessarily the hostel owner who is at fault. And it's important for travelers to SE Asia to know it may be suppliers, not individual bars, who are the ones responsible for poisonous alcohol. This means that one needs to be cautious of what they're drinking not just at some dodgy backpacker bar, but also even at a "nice" establishment.

LAX_Esq

Now the liquor brand/factory has been shut down, and the owner of the liquor factory has been arrested:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-...ning/104668686

This seems to be heading in the direction of being an issue with the production, rather than an issue with the hostel.