Methanol poisoning awareness campaigners urge Manchester Airport travellers to ‘Know The Signs’

A group of campaigners raising awareness of the risks of methanol poisoning spoke to passengers at Manchester Airport on Friday, with the Northern hub supporting a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) campaign encouraging travellers to ‘Know The Signs’ and act quickly if someone becomes unwell.

Among those sharing their stories with passengers were Margaret and Jim McKie, a Stockport couple who lost their daughter to methanol poisoning in Bali in 2022.

Joining them were survivors Bethany Clarke and Calum Macdonald. Both were backpacking in Laos when they fell victim to a mass methanol poisoning event at a hostel in Vang Vieng. Bethany’s best friend Simone White was among six travellers who lost their lives, and Calum suffered permanent damage to his vision.

Methanol poisoning is a life-threatening illness caused by consuming alcohol contaminated with methanol, a highly toxic industrial form of alcohol that is unfit for human consumption. Methanol cannot be identified in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell and a single shot can be fatal.

Methanol can sometimes be found in counterfeit, illegally produced or contaminated alcoholic drinks. Information about the risks of methanol poisoning is currently included in FCDO travel advice for 29 destinations.

British holidaymakers are advised to take practical steps to reduce the risk, including avoiding free cocktails or shots, drinks from unlabelled bottles, and unusually cheap or heavily discounted drinks claiming to be brand-name alcohol. Sticking to beer, cider, wine and pre-mixed cocktails in sealed bottles or cans minimises the risk.

They are also encouraged to familiarise themselves with the symptoms so they can act quickly and seek medical attention for themselves or their travelling companions if necessary.

Early symptoms can resemble alcohol poisoning or a severe hangover. They can include vomiting, poor judgement, loss of balance and drowsiness, before more distinctive signs such as vision problems and breathlessness develop within 12 to 48 hours of consumption. Anyone showing signs of methanol poisoning should seek urgent medical attention immediately.

The Minister responsible for Consular and Crisis, Stephen Doughty, said: “Methanol poisoning can initially look like a bad hangover, but it can be life-threatening. Recognising the warning signs and getting urgent medical help could save a life. The symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion, followed by more distinctive signs such as blurred vision and breathlessness.

“We are grateful to the survivors, families and campaigners who continue to share their experiences to help others understand the risks, and to Manchester Airport for helping to bring this important message directly to travellers. Through the FCDO’s ‘Know the Signs’ campaign, we are encouraging travellers to recognise the symptoms of methanol poisoning and seek urgent medical attention immediately if they suspect something is wrong.”

The campaigners’ pop-up information stand in Terminal 2 Departures is complemented by informational posters at key touchpoints around the terminal, including toilet cubicles.

Margaret and Jim said: “We really appreciate Manchester Airport’s support for this important campaign, especially relevant at this time of year, when young people are setting off on gap years or international travel.

“We would never want to discourage young people from travelling and exploring the world – we just want them to be armed with the information to keep themselves safe.

“We welcome Manchester Airport’s proactive approach on this issue and very much hope that other airports in the UK will follow suit.”

They have been supported by their MP, Tom Morrison, who has raised the family’s case in Parliament.

He said: “Margaret and Jim have shown extraordinary courage in turning their unimaginable grief into action that could save other families from the same heartbreak. I’ve been proud to support them in raising their daughter’s case in Parliament, and I’m hugely grateful to Bethany and Calum for having the courage to share their own experiences so publicly, and to Manchester Airports Group for hosting today’s campaign. Their combined efforts are what will keep other travellers safe, and I’m right behind everyone involved.”

Bethany said: “It was great to speak to members of the travelling public face to face and share some really important guidance with them on the signs and symptoms to look for.  If I could offer one piece of advice it would be to ensure you’re familiar with those symptoms and seek medical attention if in any doubt.”

Calum added: “From a personal perspective it’s important for me to turn a negative into a positive and use it to help people – but more broadly I think it’s important to ensure that the issue of methanol poisoning is better known and this has been a great opportunity to reach people directly with my own experiences.”

For comprehensive information on recognising symptoms and reducing risks, Brits should visit the Travel Aware campaign website. To check travel advice for a destination, visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.