This also happened in other places in Thailand/Bali. I hate how this ruins the reputation of these beautiful places. This is not a common thing as tourism is still huge but the governments need to take serious action
How to stop people made their own beverages in their own home? It's really hard to enforce. It was caused by poorly home made liquors. It's happening everywhere.
I am so happy you are ok darling girl, and wonderful you are speaking out about this, thank you. We have all been saddened by the deaths of our beautiful young ladies and your loss in England.❤❤❤
Definitely stick to bottled beers, if you really prefer a tap beer or a mixed drink, pay the extra and go to a name brand hotel bar which stocks the genuine product. Some Australians died a couple years ago in Bali, same deal with home made brew being sold as the genuine thing at these little bars.
Please don't drink at all! Order un-opened water. We live in dark times and sobriety is the way to stay safe. Or stick to beer and ask for it unopened to open yourself. Stay safe lovelies!
That's not safe either. They can fill up a used bottle with tap water and seal the top to make it look like new. This happened to me, I got violently ill after I purchased a water bottle that I opened. You can't avoid it, so just live as usual.
They didn't distill the alcohol right. They left the methanol in first bottle 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled and diluted.
14 дней назад
Notice that this dark times are either you must be follow islamic laws or you will be in high risks on dangers like this
It's wonderful you survived this awful ordeal. I believe anyone is at risk in any bar or club any where due to spiked drinks, etc, and what tragically happened over there. The biggest risk of all is being drunk. That makes you very vulnerable to all kinds of harm. Take care.❤
This isn't an issue of "spiked drinks," it's an issue of bootleg alcohol made extremely cheaply and improperly. That's why people from wealthy countries generally never have to worry about methanol poisoning unless they happen to be making their own.
@stephenbrand5661 Yes, I'm aware of that being different from drinks being spiked. I hope they find who supplied it. Though in some articles, they've used the term 'spiked'.
What a wonderful, sensible young woman. She could have said: 'this is a dangerous place, don't come here, don't drink anything' but she spoke in a thoughtful, measured way. I am so glad she is OK but sorry for the innocent lives that were lost. I hope justice comes down hard on the perpetrators!
and weed. These days it's way more dangerous and I'm not sure why. EDs are seeing more and more cases of what is essentially weed poisoning that causes people to vomit uncontrollably, which in severe cases can cause electrolyte disturbances and arrhythmia.
That's right !! These people do realize (don't they ?) that this is ethanol , in itself a poison which only takes a degree more to kill you than methanol does. This ethanol (in your average alcoholic drink) is a cancer causing compound , every single drink is doing you damage , even just one !! It is ranked as a class 4 narcotic , if you want to shorten your life substantially drink alcohol (ethanol). Don't take my word for it , look it up.
Thanks for sharing this, Lucy. I'm glad that you got through this, and I'm particularly pleased that you didn't denigrate Laos in any way. I spent a long time backpacking in Laos about 30 years ago. Laos is a beautiful country and the people are very friendly and hospitable, and it is definitely a place well worth exploring. What saddens me is hearing the reports of people cancelling trips to Laos because of what took place in Vang Vieng. It was a tragedy that happened to occur in a tourist destination in Laos. It could have happened anywhere. It certainly shouldn't be a reason to stop people visiting such a wonderful place. It should just be a reminder for anyone considering travelling beyond their own borders to first think that this is not going to be the same as home, and to be a bit more vigilant and maybe think twice before doing anything you wouldn't do back home.
The only way to execute change, unfortunately, is to vote with your feet sometimes and cancel a trip in protest. The greed of one or two people is clearly going to impact economically on the many people running businesses in Laos. The only way for those businesses to survive now is for them to place pressure on their wholesalers to buy only legitimate sources of alcohol. I have no sympathy for Laos or any other Asian country. This has been a known problem for decades. It's only reared its ugly head again this time because of the mass casualties.
@creolelady182 Usually, that is true. But with 4 international governments involved they need to be seen to do something. They would already know where most moonshine is sourced from.
Sadly you can't be safe anywhere, just live as usual people. I got violently sick after drinking bottled water I purchased and opened myself. I think they used tap water and sealed the top with special glue to make it look new. I was traveling in Ghana or Nigeria at the time, can't remember. No matter what, tourism and travel always put you at risk, it's not all Instagram pictures. This is a good reminder.
It is awful, however: this kind of thing happens all the time to American tourists when they go on vacacions to the Dominican Republic and Mexico, for example. I don't know why this case specifically gets so much attention.
This is why developed countries have strictest rules about giving licenses for alcohol distillation only to experienced and certified people. And controls and laws also have to be strict. When you don't know, what you are doing, it is easy to produce high amounts of methanol. But a lot of people just *think* they know what they do
This is why western countries have strict laws when it comes to serving food and drink. Nothing to do with poverty, it's about making more money, the tourists have more than enough money to buy proper alcohol instead of the owner coopting his cousin's still up in the highland jungles.
Good you survived it. I live in Thailand and have been to Vang Vieng and all over Laos many times the past 25 years. In 1999 it cost the equivalent of $1 for a guesthouse room and booze was similarly very cheap and abundant. Laos is a very poor country which happens to sit right next to more popular and richer Thailand and the "whatever you want" attitude makes young travellers quite susceptible to going off the rails and forgetting we are all mortal human beings with weaknesses and limits. When you let thousands of 18-20-somethings loose like that, usually first time away from home and the "normal world" it can easily go wrong. Legally at 18 you are supposed to be an adult, so for heaven's sake at least consider your family and friends back home and how it would hurt them if you screwed up too badly or died. Laos is not only poor but the government from top to bottom is largely corrupt and police are often more interested in bribes and kickbacks than actually serving the public's best interest. I couldn't believe how cheap and easy booze was the first time around, and in Vang Vieng ("Waang WEE-ung" actually) at the river bars there are seemingly always buckets full of "whatever" being passed around and young backpackers getting ridiculously drunk like there is no tomorrow. The "tubing" scene with hundreds of drunk young half-naked foreigners was especially crazy in the 2000s before the government decided to crack down on it in 2012/2013 and tore down a lot of the riverside bars, rope swings, ziplines, and the infamous "death slide". I literally sat by the river having a Beerlao watching them sledge-hammer the slide to pieces, after several people had recently been injured or killed there. I know of so many true stories, many which have been documented on You Tube or local and international news sources, and some which were more or less swept under the rug. In many ways it was like Russian roulette, one disaster after another waiting to happen. So now that six more people have died of poison alcohol may they rest in piece and condolences to their family and loved ones, maybe at last there will be a very firm investigation and a total stop to dangerous fake booze and the incentive to get wayy too drunk, show some humane level of responsibility and respect for human life instead of local tourism just doing anything to make money. Laos is also a communist one-party autocratic despotic nation-state, so maybe this will also tear down and expose a lot of the blatant corruption and scumbag government. Laos seems like a cheap free paradise to a lot of naiive backpackers, but behind the polite smiles can be a much different story. When they see young travellers walking around with a $1000 smartphone and waving around bunches of cash - more money than they ever dreamed of - they can go quite crazy.
As a Thai, I am sorry about the incident in Laos where a foreigner died and came to a Thai hospital too late. If he had come sooner, there would have been a chance to survive.
I've spent some time in a Thai government hospital , I had three surgeries there I have nothing but praise for everyone even the other patients were amazing I Loved every minute of what was a terrible time for me but I knew I was in safe hands , really and truly amazing people.❤
Fast first aid for methanol poisoning is essential. But people don't always know it is methanol poisoning, and symptoms can take hours and are similar to being very drunk. The preferred antidote is fomepizole, with ethanol used if this is not available. That's why drinking genuine spirits with ethanol alcohol in it can actually help you against methanol poisoning. It's all about metabolism.
This happens in many places sadly, Thailand this year (2024) August 22 had 21 ill. One dead and some in critical condition. Six people died and 31 others were hospitalized back in 2023. 13 in Vietnam back in 2022. Cambodian villagers hospitalized themselves from their own rice wine in 2023, 10 passed away.
@@jiin7237 hello, it's most likely not easy to search for due to it happening to their own people even though Vietnam and others countries were easy to find. Unlike what what has happened in Laos, that we know of. The news article is published in 25 August 2024 by Thaiher. If you were to search up Thailand methanol poisoning. You will get a list of countries besides Thailand. Due to tight controls for their image. Hence you get commenters bragging about how "excellent" Thai this or that hospital is. Using what they consider lower Asians (Hmong, Laos, Cambodia plus others) as a lift up to better their safety or "superior image". Edit: Thaiger. Sorry.
@@wrathc53 Do you have any link or reference source? This could be a legal issue in Thailand if you have published any fake information in the internet, unless you have a profted
@@jiin7237 what you said is incorrect. Links are not to be used on RUclips due to guidelines. It look to me that you are a nationalist for Thailand... By how you responded making up nonsense. The Thai published article from Thaiger can be searched up by the information I've responded with. Posting a link will remove my comment as I assume you want to happen. Sadly for you and any nationalists, the news article is real and can be traced further as it's also linked to the Thai health agency responding. The legal issue is completed and published in the Thai news site.
It’s really sad. The governments of US, UK, Ireland etc should issue a warning about drinking opened alcohol. I would have never even thought about it, and I know about methanol. I thought methanol was in the past.
It's not really about if open or unopened here. The makers didn't distill the alcohol right in the first place. They left the methanol in first bottle at 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled (and then diluted). Basically they were irresponsible when making it, and those poor people drank the first bottle with methanol in it.
@gusgus7794 The people of this country never stop to amaze me. How many of you cross the borders to seek medical care in my country? Both rich and poor, pay or not, many of you share our scarce resources. But you have the guts to blame us on almost anything. The victims of this tainted alcohol incident couldn't get any quality medical care in Laos and had to be transferred to Thailand for further treatment because they were in critical condition due to your poor facilities. Some couldn't make it and passed. You said Thailand must be responsible? How pathetic. Shameless.
@@gusgus7794I quote your saying: "ไทยต้องแบ่งปันความรับผิดชอบ เพราะนักท่องเที่ยวเสียชีวิตอยู่ที่ไทย" Ask yourself again how Thailand is responsible for this unfortunate incident?
@@AAWGASHTADS I have zero intention of going to a third world shithole. What will that accomplish? Ensuring that I don't have a horrible/terminal experience.
It's a wake up call for everyone travelling. Bootleg alcohol is very common in some countries. If alcohol is being given out for free it's probably of the low cost and low quantity variety. I've been warned about this happening in Spain and Turkey for example. My wife and I ordered a jug of sangria in Mallorca two years ago and felt completely wiped out afterwards. We felt awful, good for nothing and unwell. I guess it was probably bootleg alcohol.
The last thing the proprietors of these hostels want is their customers to fall ill or get any bad condition from their staying there. Most likely they had no idea aswell the Vodka was counterfeit or cut with somwthing and rebottled. They got a good deal on it, and didnt think twice until this happened.. There maybe a bad apple on staff who doesnt care either way but the owners are probably horrified.
HI, Lucy, the best thing is that you SURVIVED this ordeal!! Thanks for giving people advises. It's so sad six others lost their lives. Hopefully, the local police will give us a report as to what happened soon. I personally will never go to LAOS.
Laos is a wonderful, beautiful country with great people. Vang Vieng is everything wrong with western culture on tour. Far better things to do in Laos than get mashed off your head.
Recently a bunch of TGI Fridays were found out to have watered down or cheaply filled booze in expensive bottles. Petty drug dealers are the same no matter if its legal or not.
This is indeed very heartbreaking. If someone wonders how did this happen. As another commenter said: They (I assume a bar, restaurant) didn't distill the alcohol right. They left the methanol in first bottle 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled and diluted. :( Basically self made hardcore straight alcohol, or whatever you want to call it. Really dangerous :( it can make you blind or it’s deathly.. and how can you know, as it’s basically invisible. I’d avoid any cocktails / drinks in bars and only have unopened cans and bottles from legitimate stores! 🙌 of course you wouldn’t think something like this, it’s none of their fault, usually bars even around the world use the actual product, like vodka or other branded spirits.
Thank you for sharing this horrible experience! So sorry for your horrible experience. In Lao have no regulations so any one can just sell whatever they like just to make a lot of money very sad. They have no accountability or conscience it’s all about making money.
The issue is they distilled the bottle of spirits in error. 68c is boiling. point of methanol and this dangerous stuff should not go in the first bottle to be given to drinkers.. Only at or above 72c is when ethanol not dangerous after dilution should be bottled to drink.
The bottles were unopened. It's just the distillers didn't remove the methanol which has a boiling point of 68c first. The second boiling point of 72c is when ethanol starts which is the stuff you can drink when diluted. The distillers were lazy or too busy to bother taking away the first boiling point of 68c methanol from the bottling process.
It's not really about if opened or unopened here. They didn't distill the alcohol right when they made it. They left the methanol in first bottle 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled.
It's not really about if open or unopened here. They didn't distill the alcohol right in the first place. They left the methanol in first bottle at 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled.
It's not really about if open or unopened here. They didn't distill the alcohol right in the first place. They left the methanol in first bottle at 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled.
13 дней назад+17
Letting your teenage daughter go partying in Laos. What could go wrong??
I had already paid for my plane ticket to Laos. I had wanted to spend all my time in Vang Vien. Now I will be spending my trip only in the capital city. Not worth dying over!
Enjoy the nature. Just don't eat free foods or drinks. Or just stay away from any drinks. And carry your drink. Nature has no bad intentions. So go enjoy the people and the narure
Don't be a clown, vang vieng like the rest of Laos is a beautiful relaxing destination, just don't drink spirits , stick to " beer lao", it's the best beer in s.e.a anyway. The same thing can happen in Vientiane if you're careless.
Just becareful and aware with your internal organs after you have survived methanol poisoning because there also may be an invisible cost that comes later to your insides. Glad that you survived, sorry to all those that didn't.
Laos is highly undeveloped if something bad happens, things could get dramatically worse than you thought. It is also a communist country where the authorities can do anything to you and you have no mean to fight back. The cold war mentality is actually still there, all the public servants in Laos are required to graduated from communist countries like Vietnam, Russia, China; the MIT or Harvard graduates have no chance. Foreigners staying with the local people will get arrested because of the fear of spying and the idea of the free world could get into their populations. Laos hospitals are low quality and notoriously known for rejecting patients with no money, and if you die, there will be no autopsy, it doesn't formally exist, the Laos government has no money for that. To go to any country one should learn more about something else apart from nice bars and beautiful nature.
@forlua9211 You definitely still have the western superior mentality where developing countries and communist countries are the evil ones...the reason why Laos still have the cold war mentality is caused by your western arrogance and self-entitled superior race mentality. Please be reminded that even to the present day there are still millions of people in S.E. Asia especially in Laos who died or become physically disabled every year due to the accident of explosion of the presence of million tons of unexploded bombs dropped by western killer USA. These countries in S.E. Asia who once have a rich culture and proud kingdom are now in a poor state due to the destruction caused by the colonist French and finally the evil killer USA. I suggest all these western travelers avoid travelling to S.E. Asia and instead travel to their own developed western countries where they should feel more comfortable and at home.
funny & disgusted thing is that even this tragedy happen in Laos but they still trying to shift the blame to Thailand & Vietnam. This is real LAOS. be careful
@@bluewish1427 no... Party central is thailand and veitnam (plus other things). They are the two who blame what they consider neighbours below them. Indeed, this is a problem of Laos as of now. But to point down then add Cambodia in is a nationalist bias.
@@bluewish1427people need to be careful with stating what you just did. Unlike those two other countries, Thailand has very powerful nationalists that create divides by making bots and fake news to twist information. For then people to use like what you have done. When problems occur, it's most always the bigger neighbouring countries like Thailand that would point at and belittle just as the commenter we are replying under has done and most likely you have liked while adding on. It is what America does to countries they have damaged, exploited or seek to to do one of the two in the future. I feel bad for Laos 🇱🇦 that Thai people would jump to belittle a whole country. A very bad ego complex.
The investigation standard from the authorities of this place would exude the same indifference as that of MH370 , yeah they're paying lip service but are they doing anything really, I think not . International law enforcement agencies would have more of an active role in this than the locals ever would
Even the liquor in the bottle may be illegal. Therefore, when you come to Southeast Asia, please purchase alcohol in reliable convenience stores. Don't buy from the common people who set up sales tables in front of their homes. Because selling alcohol in Thailand only requires a license from the authorities. Not everyone can sell.
Do drink country's branded and well-known alcohol or beer if will drink. Ignore and do not drink all kinds of community made alcohol, or justify from making process to decide drinking if really will.
I live in Malaysia, only drink cocktails from top hotel bars. At a regular bar only beer from a bottle! Golden rule in SEA! The only place you dont need to give a damn is beautiful Singapore
I'm hearing this alot about bottled beer but surely it's safe drinking beer from a glass. I was in Cambodia recently & this is how beer is served to you in bars & restaurants so you just have to accept it however I did do one thing right I never left my drink ,always finished it.
I backpacked through Southeast Asia starting in Bali and made my way up to Thailand, then over to Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka back in 1989. The trip lasted 14 months. I stayed in a few "backpacker hostals" but mostly in cheaper hotels. Don't recall there being "happy hours". And even if there were, I wouldn't have participated in them. Just not my thing. I didn't travel across the world to party and hang out with a bunch of obnoxious, loud Westerners.
Laos is a country with little law and order. Even then if you’ve got money you can pay off the authorities. Fear not though as Laos is slowly becoming under China control so things are about to get whacky over there.
My dad said they would by six packs of coca cola at the PX in vietnam. and the cans has been cut and the coke removed and replaced with, well, whatever they had. American products were premium, they knew their stuff wasn't.
@@stevenbaer9061 Uh, no, theres nothing there. Its just famous for its alcoholic shenanigans. Other parts of Laos, yes, but not the place where this happened. Vang Vieng has been notorious for this kind of idiocy for decades. In the old days it was rafting down the river while wasted that k.lled tourists. That was literally the only attraction - it was basically notorious for massive unregulated unsafe piss ups on the river, leading to drownings and the occasional alcohol poisoning. Lots of tourists have died there.
@@user-lv5bt3nt3r I see what you are saying, it seemed like the post was saying don't go to Laos, but it sounds like this is a place to avoid. thank you for the info.
it a lush nature, I know there a ton nearby... but those places are probably popular for a reason and hence more touristy. Some people like the feeling of underdeveloped area
Don’t drink open made drinks, get the barman to open a beer or whatever in front of you. It’s not an absolute guarantee,but make it much less likely that this sort of thing happens.
Gotta love how Google was deleting posts of backpackers warnings others about menthol in the drinks at this hostel. So much for Google’s Do no Evil slogan.
Cheap Charlie bar owners did this , but we can’t paint the whole country as bad. Always a bad owner who bought illegal alcohol should go to jail for life if found to be the cause of these 6 deaths . One must be careful everywhere
It is so easy to distill alcohol from sugarcane, and sugarcane grows there. I would not be surprised if there are bad intentions way beyond making cheap booze.
Sounds like her boyfriend saved her life. Good thing he didn’t get sick. I wonder if he drank from the bottle it’s so crazy. I’ve never really heard of this before.
Betapa ruginya pengembaraan yang sepatutnya digunakan untuk melihat keindahan dan suasana negara lain tetapi dihabiskan dalam keadaan mabuk, lebih baik tidak payah keluar negara, cukuplah menjadi seorang pemabuk di pub dalam negara sendiri
Her boyfriend is likely the reason why she got to the hospital in time, its easy to confuse these symptoms with being hungover and by the time it gets apparent that there’s more to it, the damage is often already done.
You are so lucky to be alive.. Stay out of those countries.. What people don't talk about either is some of the oils that people use in food that they sell on the street is "gutter oil" they get that was thrown out because its cheap or free, but its very contaminated..
Backpacking = travel on the cheap (nothing wrong w that) but in a dirt poor 3rd world country - that gives out free vodka? Even a single shot I would be Sussed abt it. Vodka isn’t even from Asia - which literally means it should have been imported (if genuine) as such there is a minimum cost for it to be shipped to said country.. & whodda thunk that alcohol is usually one of the most heavily taxed imports in most Asian countries. So free “vodka” anyone? 😓
Well, I just came down to say what everyone else is apparently saying... you are not home, you are not in a comfortable environment surrounded by people you can trust, you are literally gambling with your life every time you drink or 'party' in a 3rd-world country. I don't say this to be judgemental - I have lived in SE Asia for 24 years now and every year for the past 10 years we have seen more and more female tourists w/out a man accompanying them and then they get publicly intoxicated. It absolutely boggles my mind. I'm sorry if it sounds like victim-blaming but at the end of the day, your common sense (or lack thereof) will determine a lot of outcomes...
This also happened in other places in Thailand/Bali. I hate how this ruins the reputation of these beautiful places. This is not a common thing as tourism is still huge but the governments need to take serious action
How to stop people made their own beverages in their own home? It's really hard to enforce. It was caused by poorly home made liquors. It's happening everywhere.
we are very happy you are ok ❤
I am so happy you are ok darling girl, and wonderful you are speaking out about this, thank you. We have all been saddened by the deaths of our beautiful young ladies and your loss in England.❤❤❤
Definitely stick to bottled beers, if you really prefer a tap beer or a mixed drink, pay the extra and go to a name brand hotel bar which stocks the genuine product. Some Australians died a couple years ago in Bali, same deal with home made brew being sold as the genuine thing at these little bars.
Those people in Bali I believe drank the petrol that they put in Absolute bottles at gas stations..
Please don't drink at all! Order un-opened water. We live in dark times and sobriety is the way to stay safe. Or stick to beer and ask for it unopened to open yourself. Stay safe lovelies!
That's not safe either. They can fill up a used bottle with tap water and seal the top to make it look like new. This happened to me, I got violently ill after I purchased a water bottle that I opened. You can't avoid it, so just live as usual.
@@june2420111fill your own water bottles
They didn't distill the alcohol right. They left the methanol in first bottle 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled and diluted.
Notice that this dark times are either you must be follow islamic laws or you will be in high risks on dangers like this
Absolutely not. Or we would have to pay jizya tax as well with Islam being the reigning religion so no.
It's wonderful you survived this awful ordeal. I believe anyone is at risk in any bar or club any where due to spiked drinks, etc, and what tragically happened over there. The biggest risk of all is being drunk. That makes you very vulnerable to all kinds of harm. Take care.❤
ໄທຕ້ອງແບ່ງປັນຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບ ເພາະນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວເສຍຊີວິດຢູ່ໄທ.
My thoughts exactly.
This isn't an issue of "spiked drinks," it's an issue of bootleg alcohol made extremely cheaply and improperly.
That's why people from wealthy countries generally never have to worry about methanol poisoning unless they happen to be making their own.
@stephenbrand5661 Yes, I'm aware of that being different from drinks being spiked. I hope they find who supplied it. Though in some articles, they've used the term 'spiked'.
I was over there a month ago but stay out of bars. Get my own beers and drink alone or drink with peoples that you open your own can.👍
What a wonderful, sensible young woman. She could have said: 'this is a dangerous place, don't come here, don't drink anything' but she spoke in a thoughtful, measured way. I am so glad she is OK but sorry for the innocent lives that were lost. I hope justice comes down hard on the perpetrators!
Stay away from alcohol completely
and weed. These days it's way more dangerous and I'm not sure why. EDs are seeing more and more cases of what is essentially weed poisoning that causes people to vomit uncontrollably, which in severe cases can cause electrolyte disturbances and arrhythmia.
@@stolenrelic liar
Wtf are you smoking
That's right !! These people do realize (don't they ?) that this is ethanol , in itself a poison which only takes a degree more to kill you than methanol does. This ethanol (in your average alcoholic drink) is a cancer causing compound , every single drink is doing you damage , even just one !! It is ranked as a class 4 narcotic , if you want to shorten your life substantially drink alcohol (ethanol). Don't take my word for it , look it up.
Thanks for sharing this, Lucy. I'm glad that you got through this, and I'm particularly pleased that you didn't denigrate Laos in any way. I spent a long time backpacking in Laos about 30 years ago. Laos is a beautiful country and the people are very friendly and hospitable, and it is definitely a place well worth exploring. What saddens me is hearing the reports of people cancelling trips to Laos because of what took place in Vang Vieng. It was a tragedy that happened to occur in a tourist destination in Laos. It could have happened anywhere. It certainly shouldn't be a reason to stop people visiting such a wonderful place. It should just be a reminder for anyone considering travelling beyond their own borders to first think that this is not going to be the same as home, and to be a bit more vigilant and maybe think twice before doing anything you wouldn't do back home.
The only way to execute change, unfortunately, is to vote with your feet sometimes and cancel a trip in protest.
The greed of one or two people is clearly going to impact economically on the many people running businesses in Laos.
The only way for those businesses to survive now is for them to place pressure on their wholesalers to buy only legitimate sources of alcohol.
I have no sympathy for Laos or any other Asian country. This has been a known problem for decades. It's only reared its ugly head again this time because of the mass casualties.
Thank you for sharing your story! What that those poor young women had only known!
Those people Did save her life But so did her boyfriend .
Let me tel lyou the police will not do anything about this
@creolelady182 Usually, that is true. But with 4 international governments involved they need to be seen to do something. They would already know where most moonshine is sourced from.
8 people involved already arrested, yes they are pretty corrupt, but the scrutiny is very high here with 4 other government involved.
Sadly you can't be safe anywhere, just live as usual people. I got violently sick after drinking bottled water I purchased and opened myself. I think they used tap water and sealed the top with special glue to make it look new. I was traveling in Ghana or Nigeria at the time, can't remember. No matter what, tourism and travel always put you at risk, it's not all Instagram pictures. This is a good reminder.
I'm glad you're okay
It's so awful what happened
It is awful, however: this kind of thing happens all the time to American tourists when they go on vacacions to the Dominican Republic and Mexico, for example. I don't know why this case specifically gets so much attention.
Same thing happened in Mexico where all died
Stop spreading fake news ...thats enough líes , in america is even more dangerous
This is why developed countries have strictest rules about giving licenses for alcohol distillation only to experienced and certified people. And controls and laws also have to be strict. When you don't know, what you are doing, it is easy to produce high amounts of methanol. But a lot of people just *think* they know what they do
The sad thing is when the dust settles on these extremely sad events, it will happen again ! Poverty breeds desperation, so sad for those affected 🙏
you are right
🙄
In this case the Hostel owners are not living in poverty. They own a Business in a town thriving with Young Tourists.
Yes, it's wherever money can be made or saved. Good quality spirits are expensive and highly taxed. But anyone can make cheap home-made alcohol...
This is why western countries have strict laws when it comes to serving food and drink. Nothing to do with poverty, it's about making more money, the tourists have more than enough money to buy proper alcohol instead of the owner coopting his cousin's still up in the highland jungles.
Good you survived it. I live in Thailand and have been to Vang Vieng and all over Laos many times the past 25 years. In 1999 it cost the equivalent of $1 for a guesthouse room and booze was similarly very cheap and abundant. Laos is a very poor country which happens to sit right next to more popular and richer Thailand and the "whatever you want" attitude makes young travellers quite susceptible to going off the rails and forgetting we are all mortal human beings with weaknesses and limits. When you let thousands of 18-20-somethings loose like that, usually first time away from home and the "normal world" it can easily go wrong. Legally at 18 you are supposed to be an adult, so for heaven's sake at least consider your family and friends back home and how it would hurt them if you screwed up too badly or died. Laos is not only poor but the government from top to bottom is largely corrupt and police are often more interested in bribes and kickbacks than actually serving the public's best interest. I couldn't believe how cheap and easy booze was the first time around, and in Vang Vieng ("Waang WEE-ung" actually) at the river bars there are seemingly always buckets full of "whatever" being passed around and young backpackers getting ridiculously drunk like there is no tomorrow. The "tubing" scene with hundreds of drunk young half-naked foreigners was especially crazy in the 2000s before the government decided to crack down on it in 2012/2013 and tore down a lot of the riverside bars, rope swings, ziplines, and the infamous "death slide". I literally sat by the river having a Beerlao watching them sledge-hammer the slide to pieces, after several people had recently been injured or killed there. I know of so many true stories, many which have been documented on You Tube or local and international news sources, and some which were more or less swept under the rug. In many ways it was like Russian roulette, one disaster after another waiting to happen. So now that six more people have died of poison alcohol may they rest in piece and condolences to their family and loved ones, maybe at last there will be a very firm investigation and a total stop to dangerous fake booze and the incentive to get wayy too drunk, show some humane level of responsibility and respect for human life instead of local tourism just doing anything to make money. Laos is also a communist one-party autocratic despotic nation-state, so maybe this will also tear down and expose a lot of the blatant corruption and scumbag government. Laos seems like a cheap free paradise to a lot of naiive backpackers, but behind the polite smiles can be a much different story. When they see young travellers walking around with a $1000 smartphone and waving around bunches of cash - more money than they ever dreamed of - they can go quite crazy.
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Please separate your ideas into paragraphs.
This is called Wall of Text, and it's hard to read, because it's just one massive block of words. 😕
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don't drink alcohol
I agree to this statement. All alcohol is poison.
As a Thai, I am sorry about the incident in Laos where a foreigner died and came to a Thai hospital too late. If he had come sooner, there would have been a chance to survive.
I've spent some time in a Thai government hospital , I had three surgeries there I have nothing but praise for everyone even the other patients were amazing I Loved every minute of what was a terrible time for me but I knew I was in safe hands , really and truly amazing people.❤
Sure we should all just live in the reception hall of the hosp because we're normally on board for poisoning ourselves and for free at that!😊
6 people have died from the same place drinking the poison and still some on life support.
@@veronicacurrie3449 Laos Myanmar Cambodia are not safe to travel to.
Fast first aid for methanol poisoning is essential. But people don't always know it is methanol poisoning, and symptoms can take hours and are similar to being very drunk. The preferred antidote is fomepizole, with ethanol used if this is not available. That's why drinking genuine spirits with ethanol alcohol in it can actually help you against methanol poisoning. It's all about metabolism.
This happens in many places sadly, Thailand this year (2024) August 22 had 21 ill. One dead and some in critical condition. Six people died and 31 others were hospitalized back in 2023. 13 in Vietnam back in 2022.
Cambodian villagers hospitalized themselves from their own rice wine in 2023, 10 passed away.
Aug 22 had 21 ill and This year In Thailand? where did you got the information from?
@@jiin7237 hello, it's most likely not easy to search for due to it happening to their own people even though Vietnam and others countries were easy to find. Unlike what what has happened in Laos, that we know of.
The news article is published in 25 August 2024 by Thaiher.
If you were to search up Thailand methanol poisoning. You will get a list of countries besides Thailand. Due to tight controls for their image. Hence you get commenters bragging about how "excellent" Thai this or that hospital is.
Using what they consider lower Asians (Hmong, Laos, Cambodia plus others) as a lift up to better their safety or "superior image".
Edit: Thaiger.
Sorry.
@@wrathc53 Do you have any link or reference source? This could be a legal issue in Thailand if you have published any fake information in the internet, unless you have a profted
@@jiin7237 Bangkok Post
@@jiin7237 what you said is incorrect. Links are not to be used on RUclips due to guidelines.
It look to me that you are a nationalist for Thailand... By how you responded making up nonsense.
The Thai published article from Thaiger can be searched up by the information I've responded with. Posting a link will remove my comment as I assume you want to happen.
Sadly for you and any nationalists, the news article is real and can be traced further as it's also linked to the Thai health agency responding. The legal issue is completed and published in the Thai news site.
It’s really sad. The governments of US, UK, Ireland etc should issue a warning about drinking opened alcohol. I would have never even thought about it, and I know about methanol. I thought methanol was in the past.
It's not really about if open or unopened here. The makers didn't distill the alcohol right in the first place. They left the methanol in first bottle at 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled (and then diluted). Basically they were irresponsible when making it, and those poor people drank the first bottle with methanol in it.
Kasemrad Int'l Hospital is a Thai hospital co-operated with Laos. You're so lucky.
ໄທຕ້ອງແບ່ງປັນຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບ ເພາະນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວເສຍຊີວິດຢູ່ໄທ.
สมมุติเจ้าป่วยหนักอยู่บ้าน แล้วไปตายอยู่โฮงหมอ มันเป็นความผิดของโฮงหมอจังสั้นบ่อ.
@gusgus7794 The people of this country never stop to amaze me. How many of you cross the borders to seek medical care in my country? Both rich and poor, pay or not, many of you share our scarce resources. But you have the guts to blame us on almost anything. The victims of this tainted alcohol incident couldn't get any quality medical care in Laos and had to be transferred to Thailand for further treatment because they were in critical condition due to your poor facilities. Some couldn't make it and passed. You said Thailand must be responsible? How pathetic. Shameless.
@@gusgus7794I quote your saying: "ไทยต้องแบ่งปันความรับผิดชอบ เพราะนักท่องเที่ยวเสียชีวิตอยู่ที่ไทย" Ask yourself again how Thailand is responsible for this unfortunate incident?
@@gusgus7794
When you getting sick in Loas loneliness and despair.
"The Land that god forget"
"Do not travel there", thanks
That accomplishes nothing but to punish local business people 99.99% of whom had nothing to do with this
@@AAWGASHTADS I have zero intention of going to a third world shithole. What will that accomplish? Ensuring that I don't have a horrible/terminal experience.
No , dont drink
6 Thai guys dies over the weekend from the same issue, it just didn't get any press. So ban Thailand?
@@neale3871 Myanmar Laos Cambodia are one of the poorest least developed countries in the world. Least educated too.
Your body does not need alcohol. Don’t drink alcohol at all.
Rest in peace young ones
The Nana manager was released. No charges. As of the weekend.
She likely paid them some pocket money and got all dropped.
It's a wake up call for everyone travelling. Bootleg alcohol is very common in some countries. If alcohol is being given out for free it's probably of the low cost and low quantity variety. I've been warned about this happening in Spain and Turkey for example. My wife and I ordered a jug of sangria in Mallorca two years ago and felt completely wiped out afterwards. We felt awful, good for nothing and unwell. I guess it was probably bootleg alcohol.
The last thing the proprietors of these hostels want is their customers to fall ill or get any bad condition from their staying there. Most likely they had no idea aswell the Vodka was counterfeit or cut with somwthing and rebottled. They got a good deal on it, and didnt think twice until this happened.. There maybe a bad apple on staff who doesnt care either way but the owners are probably horrified.
HI, Lucy, the best thing is that you SURVIVED this ordeal!! Thanks for giving people advises.
It's so sad six others lost their lives. Hopefully, the local police will give us a report as to what happened soon.
I personally will never go to LAOS.
15 hours later - very scary.
Laos is a wonderful, beautiful country with great people. Vang Vieng is everything wrong with western culture on tour. Far better things to do in Laos than get mashed off your head.
Just don't go there. It's far off to be safe.
Recently a bunch of TGI Fridays were found out to have watered down or cheaply filled booze in expensive bottles.
Petty drug dealers are the same no matter if its legal or not.
Wait, seriously? That's crazy.
This is indeed very heartbreaking. If someone wonders how did this happen. As another commenter said:
They (I assume a bar, restaurant) didn't distill the alcohol right. They left the methanol in first bottle 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled and diluted. :( Basically self made hardcore straight alcohol, or whatever you want to call it. Really dangerous :( it can make you blind or it’s deathly.. and how can you know, as it’s basically invisible. I’d avoid any cocktails / drinks in bars and only have unopened cans and bottles from legitimate stores! 🙌 of course you wouldn’t think something like this, it’s none of their fault, usually bars even around the world use the actual product, like vodka or other branded spirits.
Lots of dumb comments in here.
Thank you for sharing this horrible experience! So sorry for your horrible experience. In Lao have no regulations so any one can just sell whatever they like just to make a lot of money very sad. They have no accountability or conscience it’s all about making money.
never drink liquor from an open bottle but young people don't think of things like this and they think they are invincible
The issue is they distilled the bottle of spirits in error. 68c is boiling. point of methanol and this dangerous stuff should not go in the first bottle to be given to drinkers.. Only at or above 72c is when ethanol not dangerous after dilution should be bottled to drink.
The bottles were unopened. It's just the distillers didn't remove the methanol which has a boiling point of 68c first. The second boiling point of 72c is when ethanol starts which is the stuff you can drink when diluted. The distillers were lazy or too busy to bother taking away the first boiling point of 68c methanol from the bottling process.
It's not really about if opened or unopened here. They didn't distill the alcohol right when they made it. They left the methanol in first bottle 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled.
It's not really about if open or unopened here. They didn't distill the alcohol right in the first place. They left the methanol in first bottle at 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled.
It's not really about if open or unopened here. They didn't distill the alcohol right in the first place. They left the methanol in first bottle at 68c boiling point, it's at 72c when ethanol starts which is safe when distilled.
Letting your teenage daughter go partying in Laos. What could go wrong??
She’s an adult, no one needs to let her do anything.
How do plan to stop her? Lock her in her room?
Thank god you are alive 🩵
I had already paid for my plane ticket to Laos. I had wanted to spend all my time in Vang Vien. Now I will be spending my trip only in the capital city. Not worth dying over!
That’s a silly idea. Vang Vieng is beautiful, great nature. Just don’t drink alcohol.
Enjoy the nature. Just don't eat free foods or drinks. Or just stay away from any drinks. And carry your drink. Nature has no bad intentions. So go enjoy the people and the narure
Don't be a clown, vang vieng like the rest of Laos is a beautiful relaxing destination, just don't drink spirits , stick to " beer lao", it's the best beer in s.e.a anyway.
The same thing can happen in Vientiane if you're careless.
If you drink cheap unlicensed alcohol, you wouldn't save everywhere.
You’re dumb
don’t drink alcohol, problem solved.
Just becareful and aware with your internal organs after you have survived methanol poisoning because there also may be an invisible cost that comes later to your insides. Glad that you survived, sorry to all those that didn't.
Why do you think you've got to drink to enjoy life and the company of others? The risks, whether at home or abroad, are very real.
So glad you made it ....tks for video 🎉
Stay away from alcohol. Period
Thank God you survived to share this experience. How scary!!
She looks 15!
Don’t stay in cheap ass hostels
bless your heart and you are okay I am very sorry bout all the loss in laos
Simple fix, don't drink!
Sooooo you want to starve yourself?
Glad you survived ❤
Laos is highly undeveloped if something bad happens, things could get dramatically worse than you thought. It is also a communist country where the authorities can do anything to you and you have no mean to fight back. The cold war mentality is actually still there, all the public servants in Laos are required to graduated from communist countries like Vietnam, Russia, China; the MIT or Harvard graduates have no chance. Foreigners staying with the local people will get arrested because of the fear of spying and the idea of the free world could get into their populations. Laos hospitals are low quality and notoriously known for rejecting patients with no money, and if you die, there will be no autopsy, it doesn't formally exist, the Laos government has no money for that.
To go to any country one should learn more about something else apart from nice bars and beautiful nature.
One of the worst countries in Asia
Why do you think we go there? It's to get away from the stifling rules and regulations of the west.
And yet Europeans keep going to places like this because poverty, violence, underdevelopment and depravity is "exotic" for them
Western imperialism is dying, no matter what you say!
@forlua9211 You definitely still have the western superior mentality where developing countries and communist countries are the evil ones...the reason why Laos still have the cold war mentality is caused by your western arrogance and self-entitled superior race mentality. Please be reminded that even to the present day there are still millions of people in S.E. Asia especially in Laos who died or become physically disabled every year due to the accident of explosion of the presence of million tons of unexploded bombs dropped by western killer USA. These countries in S.E. Asia who once have a rich culture and proud kingdom are now in a poor state due to the destruction caused by the colonist French and finally the evil killer USA. I suggest all these western travelers avoid travelling to S.E. Asia and instead travel to their own developed western countries where they should feel more comfortable and at home.
Don't drink.
Sweet girl. Hope she fully recovers.
funny & disgusted thing is that even this tragedy happen in Laos but they still trying to shift the blame to Thailand & Vietnam. This is real LAOS. be careful
Laos and Cambodia always do the same thing.
@@bluewish1427 no... Party central is thailand and veitnam (plus other things). They are the two who blame what they consider neighbours below them.
Indeed, this is a problem of Laos as of now. But to point down then add Cambodia in is a nationalist bias.
@wrathc53 When they have some problems, they always point out to the other this the same habit of Laos and Cambodians.
@@bluewish1427people need to be careful with stating what you just did.
Unlike those two other countries, Thailand has very powerful nationalists that create divides by making bots and fake news to twist information. For then people to use like what you have done.
When problems occur, it's most always the bigger neighbouring countries like Thailand that would point at and belittle just as the commenter we are replying under has done and most likely you have liked while adding on.
It is what America does to countries they have damaged, exploited or seek to to do one of the two in the future. I feel bad for Laos 🇱🇦 that Thai people would jump to belittle a whole country. A very bad ego complex.
stop going to laos
The investigation standard from the authorities of this place would exude the same indifference as that of MH370 , yeah they're paying lip service but are they doing anything really, I think not . International law enforcement agencies would have more of an active role in this than the locals ever would
Even the liquor in the bottle may be illegal. Therefore, when you come to Southeast Asia, please purchase alcohol in reliable convenience stores. Don't buy from the common people who set up sales tables in front of their homes. Because selling alcohol in Thailand only requires a license from the authorities. Not everyone can sell.
Be vigilant what you put into your body..thats why i dont drink or smoke
Do drink country's branded and well-known alcohol or beer if will drink.
Ignore and do not drink all kinds of community made alcohol, or justify from making process to decide drinking if really will.
It's sad because this was not only completely avoidable If this occurred in a country with better healthcare they would of all been saved.
I live in Malaysia, only drink cocktails from top hotel bars. At a regular bar only beer from a bottle! Golden rule in SEA! The only place you dont need to give a damn is beautiful Singapore
Stop drinking alcohol no matter where u are!!!! Asia, europe, usa,...just don't drink alcohol.
I'm hearing this alot about bottled beer but surely it's safe drinking beer from a glass. I was in Cambodia recently & this is how beer is served to you in bars & restaurants so you just have to accept it however I did do one thing right I never left my drink ,always finished it.
I backpacked through Southeast Asia starting in Bali and made my way up to Thailand, then over to Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka back in 1989. The trip lasted 14 months. I stayed in a few "backpacker hostals" but mostly in cheaper hotels. Don't recall there being "happy hours". And even if there were, I wouldn't have participated in them. Just not my thing. I didn't travel across the world to party and hang out with a bunch of obnoxious, loud Westerners.
I am glad you are safe , I wish you will continue sueing the hostel until they found out whoever doing this go to jail...
If she tells the truth, this was not caused by accidental contamination
Laos is a country with little law and order. Even then if you’ve got money you can pay off the authorities. Fear not though as Laos is slowly becoming under China control so things are about to get whacky over there.
Well done 👏
Crazy that happened in a hostel and not a seperate dodgy bar. Scary. Don’t drink anything unopened and certainly not the buckets
I guess you learned a powerful lesson young lady.
Common in that part of the regions. Each year local folks ended up dead in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma
Poor regulation is handled I'm glad she made it through it i hope offical will investigate this
My dad said they would by six packs of coca cola at the PX in vietnam. and the cans has been cut and the coke removed and replaced with, well, whatever they had. American products were premium, they knew their stuff wasn't.
This has happened to me before, in Thailand too, but I think it was actually food poison 😅 and I was nursed back to health by some lovely Thai lady.
Why would people spends thousands of dollars to just to go to places like this?
Ummm to see the world, just because one awful hostel killed it customers is not a reason to write off a nation
Agreed. I would rather party in Blackpool.
@@stevenbaer9061 Uh, no, theres nothing there. Its just famous for its alcoholic shenanigans. Other parts of Laos, yes, but not the place where this happened. Vang Vieng has been notorious for this kind of idiocy for decades. In the old days it was rafting down the river while wasted that k.lled tourists. That was literally the only attraction - it was basically notorious for massive unregulated unsafe piss ups on the river, leading to drownings and the occasional alcohol poisoning. Lots of tourists have died there.
@@user-lv5bt3nt3r I see what you are saying, it seemed like the post was saying don't go to Laos, but it sounds like this is a place to avoid.
thank you for the info.
it a lush nature, I know there a ton nearby... but those places are probably popular for a reason and hence more touristy.
Some people like the feeling of underdeveloped area
Don’t drink open made drinks, get the barman to open a beer or whatever in front of you. It’s not an absolute guarantee,but make it much less likely that this sort of thing happens.
Could be but methanol is also naturally occurring in badly made liquor. That "locally sourced vodka" sounds mighty suspicious to me.
Gotta love how Google was deleting posts of backpackers warnings others about menthol in the drinks at this hostel. So much for Google’s Do no Evil slogan.
Sad that this occurred. I dont drink from any opened containers whime traveled. If a beer or soft drink is handed to my open, i decline
Cheap Charlie bar owners did this , but we can’t paint the whole country as bad. Always a bad owner who bought illegal alcohol should go to jail for life if found to be the cause of these 6 deaths . One must be careful everywhere
It is so easy to distill alcohol from sugarcane, and sugarcane grows there. I would not be surprised if there are bad intentions way beyond making cheap booze.
Sounds like her boyfriend saved her life. Good thing he didn’t get sick. I wonder if he drank from the bottle it’s so crazy. I’ve never really heard of this before.
Nasty places attract nasty situations anywhere on this planet, you made it, good job!
Betapa ruginya pengembaraan yang sepatutnya digunakan untuk melihat keindahan dan suasana negara lain tetapi dihabiskan dalam keadaan mabuk, lebih baik tidak payah keluar negara, cukuplah menjadi seorang pemabuk di pub dalam negara sendiri
Why would anyone go to Laos?
Wonderful people, amazing landscape and sites to see, perhaps
wonder how she survived while the others died
cos shes about 12 yr old 🤣
Her boyfriend is likely the reason why she got to the hospital in time, its easy to confuse these symptoms with being hungover and by the time it gets apparent that there’s more to it, the damage is often already done.
Her quick thinking boyfriend rush her to hospital, give her medical help necessary before too late.
You are so lucky to be alive.. Stay out of those countries.. What people don't talk about either is some of the oils that people use in food that they sell on the street is "gutter oil" they get that was thrown out because its cheap or free, but its very contaminated..
😮 That is extremely scary
Backpacking = travel on the cheap (nothing wrong w that) but in a dirt poor 3rd world country - that gives out free vodka? Even a single shot I would be Sussed abt it. Vodka isn’t even from Asia - which literally means it should have been imported (if genuine) as such there is a minimum cost for it to be shipped to said country.. & whodda thunk that alcohol is usually one of the most heavily taxed imports in most Asian countries. So free “vodka” anyone? 😓
We all ❤️ a free drink, don't we!
Not me, I don't consume that poison I am wealthy so I watch from afar well others indulge.
Happens often in Southeast Asian countries. Drink beer
Lucky girl
Why take free drinks from country where alcohol is cheaper than water.
When traveling never put yourself in vulnerable situations like that....
Thats horrific i would never take free drinks after seeing this dont wanna die
Well, I just came down to say what everyone else is apparently saying... you are not home, you are not in a comfortable environment surrounded by people you can trust, you are literally gambling with your life every time you drink or 'party' in a 3rd-world country. I don't say this to be judgemental - I have lived in SE Asia for 24 years now and every year for the past 10 years we have seen more and more female tourists w/out a man accompanying them and then they get publicly intoxicated. It absolutely boggles my mind. I'm sorry if it sounds like victim-blaming but at the end of the day, your common sense (or lack thereof) will determine a lot of outcomes...
So sorry
Good advise
Don’t drink methanol.
looks like laos has become unsafe and does not want any tourist
Drink beer. Thats save!