The dangers of drinking hooch in SE Asia
Discussion
“American and Brit among five tourists dead as countries warn of suspected methanol poisonings in Laos”
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/21/asia/australia-...
Although the article only singles out Laos, this is far more widespread, than is being reported.
Young backpackers want to get wasted, no surprise; but your child is TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) you know that friendly local corner shop they talk about, the ‘Jack Daniel’s’ is cheap for a reason.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/21/asia/australia-...
Although the article only singles out Laos, this is far more widespread, than is being reported.
Young backpackers want to get wasted, no surprise; but your child is TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) you know that friendly local corner shop they talk about, the ‘Jack Daniel’s’ is cheap for a reason.
daqinggregg said:
“American and Brit among five tourists dead as countries warn of suspected methanol poisonings in Laos”
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/21/asia/australia-...
Although the article only singles out Laos, this is far more widespread, than is being reported.
Young backpackers want to get wasted, no surprise; but your child is TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) you know that friendly local corner shop they talk about, the ‘Jack Daniel’s’ is cheap for a reason.
It is the suppliers and not the bars that tend to be the source. It therefore comes down to greed.https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/21/asia/australia-...
Although the article only singles out Laos, this is far more widespread, than is being reported.
Young backpackers want to get wasted, no surprise; but your child is TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) you know that friendly local corner shop they talk about, the ‘Jack Daniel’s’ is cheap for a reason.
worsy said:
It is the suppliers and not the bars that tend to be the source. It therefore comes down to greed.
While I agree with you to some extent, does not the bar/shop have a duty of care to their customers? If you’re buying alcohol to resell and the price is suspiciously low, you must know something’s not right.
I’ve seen branded single malt’s on sale in Asian liquor stores at way below cost, could be they are just generous.
I didn’t know, doesn’t cut it.
daqinggregg said:
worsy said:
It is the suppliers and not the bars that tend to be the source. It therefore comes down to greed.
While I agree with you to some extent, does not the bar/shop have a duty of care to their customers? If you’re buying alcohol to resell and the price is suspiciously low, you must know something’s not right.
I’ve seen branded single malt’s on sale in Asian liquor stores at way below cost, could be they are just generous.
I didn’t know, doesn’t cut it.
daqinggregg said:
While I agree with you to some extent, does not the bar/shop have a duty of care to their customers?
If you’re buying alcohol to resell and the price is suspiciously low, you must know something’s not right.
I’ve seen branded single malt’s on sale in Asian liquor stores at way below cost, could be they are just generous.
I didn’t know, doesn’t cut it.
Maybe the price wasn't or isn't suspiciously low? If you’re buying alcohol to resell and the price is suspiciously low, you must know something’s not right.
I’ve seen branded single malt’s on sale in Asian liquor stores at way below cost, could be they are just generous.
I didn’t know, doesn’t cut it.
daqinggregg said:
worsy said:
It is the suppliers and not the bars that tend to be the source. It therefore comes down to greed.
While I agree with you to some extent, does not the bar/shop have a duty of care to their customers? If you’re buying alcohol to resell and the price is suspiciously low, you must know something’s not right.
I’ve seen branded single malt’s on sale in Asian liquor stores at way below cost, could be they are just generous.
I didn’t know, doesn’t cut it.
Personally I don’t drink spirits, I have however, come across restaurants/bars in SE Asia selling beer, which is not as labeled.
I know of one South African girl, who was diagnosed with appendicitis, returned home where she was diagnosed with acute alcohol poisoning.
She was buying ‘Jack Daniel’s’ from the friendly local ‘mom and pop’ store. I’m not suggesting the store was intentionally selling fake alcohol, they probably just selling the cheapest alcohol they could buy.
I know of one South African girl, who was diagnosed with appendicitis, returned home where she was diagnosed with acute alcohol poisoning.
She was buying ‘Jack Daniel’s’ from the friendly local ‘mom and pop’ store. I’m not suggesting the store was intentionally selling fake alcohol, they probably just selling the cheapest alcohol they could buy.
daqinggregg said:
While I agree with you to some extent, does not the bar/shop have a duty of care to their customers?
If you’re buying alcohol to resell and the price is suspiciously low, you must know something’s not right.
I’ve seen branded single malt’s on sale in Asian liquor stores at way below cost, could be they are just generous.
I didn’t know, doesn’t cut it.
You're not familiar with South East Asia I take it.If you’re buying alcohol to resell and the price is suspiciously low, you must know something’s not right.
I’ve seen branded single malt’s on sale in Asian liquor stores at way below cost, could be they are just generous.
I didn’t know, doesn’t cut it.
A businesses only duty of care is ensuring that the local rozzers and town hall have been paid off.
This isn't the first death in that part of the world from tainted/home made liquor and they won't be the last either. The locals generally don't care, it's a fatalistic culture mixed with a reincarnation religion. Their road fatalities are 10 times higher (or greater) than the UKs on a bad year.
The international attention this has garnered simply means that once the culprits have been caught they'll have to pay more than usual to get out of it.
Also, the spirits in question aren't likely to be fake imports, rather fake local spirits which are mostly rum, even though they call it "whiskey" (it's usually made from sugar cane so it's a rum by definition, just don't try to tell a local that). They make it sweet enough to hide the taste, especially when mixed with a soft drink.
Be careful when drinking on the cheap in third world countries folks.
I don't drink spirits either but friends who go to Thailand regularly don't have problems. Anything off the street or rural areas I would avoid. Also sample your drinks before you down it. If it smells like petrol don't drink it.
This is only in the headlines because they are tourists. Happens all the time - this was in India .. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd117j4nplzo
This is only in the headlines because they are tourists. Happens all the time - this was in India .. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd117j4nplzo
fido said:
I don't drink spirits either but friends who go to Thailand regularly don't have problems. Anything off the street or rural areas I would avoid. Also sample your drinks before you down it. If it smells like petrol don't drink it.
This is only in the headlines because they are tourists. Happens all the time - this was in India .. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd117j4nplzo
Thailand really cracks down on it. Most of the breweries and distilleries are owned by rich Thai families so we can't have anyone messing with that. This is only in the headlines because they are tourists. Happens all the time - this was in India .. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd117j4nplzo
Any bottle of spirit over there has a bit of paper tape over it as proof the tax has been paid. If your bottle doesn't have a tape seal, chances are it's not the genuine article.
Southerner said:
Wasn’t this highlighted some years back as a potential issue in some dodgy British ‘corner shop’ type places? I seem to remember Trading Standards taking a brief interest, back when they existed.
Yes, I fancied a drink the other day, went to the local Londis and purchased a small bottle of Glens Vodka. I then had a vague recollection of this happening so Googled it and was amazed to find that there was a report of fake bottle of Glens Vodka. Glens Vodka for those who are not in the know is pretty much the cheapest Vodka you can buy, marketed towards 'Urban Drinkers'.I checked my bottle and it was fine, but it shocks me that people would go to the effort of creating fakes of literally the cheapest Vodka you can buy.
My partner is Australian and in her 20s visited SE Asia many times and drank at many types of bar, this could have easily happened to her and her friends.
rodericb said:
Maybe the price wasn't or isn't suspiciously low?
Haha I am not sure that applies in PDR Lao.Tiger "finest Blended Whisky" was 10,000 kip when I was last in Lao (2019), that is almost 40p for 70CL, and that was from a tourist shop.
Even Hong Thong or Mekhong, "premium" Thai blended "whiskey" is about £4 a bottle.
Lao Khao rice Whiskey is about £2 a bottle, mixed with mango smoothie its lovely
Its always fake branded drinks, JD, Bacardi etc, no one is doctoring the 40p a bottle local stuff.
All the local stuff is surprisingly ok if you dilute it with enough pop, fruit juice or soda, ideally M150 for the authentic Thai labourer breakfast.
the-norseman said:
Missus wants to go to Bali, but the GOV website mentions this kinda thing for Bali just puts me right off.
I live in Bali.The .gov uk website is very alarmist.
Risk, for example, of terrorism is much lower here than UK.
Makes me laugh that the USA Gov one is equally alarmist, when murder rates: UK 1/100,000. USA 6.4/100,000. Indo 0.4/100,000.
Beware of violent political protests! Well some students (about 50) did do a little march during COVID, can’t remember what for.
I’ve seen people arrive with malaria pills and needles in case they need an injection. Vaccinated for Japanese Encephalitis and with concealed ankle wallet to hold their money.
Where did they think they were going? Some African nation rarely visited by even brave explorers?
My advice these days: don’t rent a bike unless you can already drive one. Don’t get angry. Respect the culture. That last one as there has been a real backlash against certain types of tourists.
Biggest danger, apart from riding a bike, is being bored to death by some guy with a man-bun telling you how Bali has been ruined and then showing you photos of the villas he is building with his girlfriend who is a cross-fit instagram influencer.
I also own a cocktail bar.
Some places adulterate their alcohol with arak.
This is as the tax is so high. My guys just bought a Mcallen12 year for £110. A lot of that is import tax. We sold the whole bottle to a group last night for £240. It sounds expensive but its all to do with the import taxes.
So to get you your £3 ‘negroni’ cheap bars use a lot of arak. Which is fine, if the person making the Arak knows what they are doing.
The distillation process produces methanol ‘tails’ at the start of the process. If these ‘tails’ are not discarded you will have rogue bottle or two containing methanol. Which is very very dangerous.
There is a reason our Negronis start at £6 for ones just using a house pour; Gordons etc.
Rising to £15 depending on choice of gin and using Antica rather than a standard vermouth.
(Alcohol might be cut with ethanol as well. We would not do this but my bar staff have seen it done at cheap places and very high end ones as well.)
The above is how methanol gets into the chain. No one is adding it deliberately.
If you unexpectedly feel really drunk and have vision problems - neck a load of proper alcohol. An unopened decent brand of vodka would do. The alcohol neutralises the methanol. That will most likely save your life.
If your wife frequents run down sports-bars that sell the cheapest possible drinks in some back lane in Kuta. Or is staying in a cheap backpacker hotel where the owner makes ‘cocktails’ for his guests…..yes she might be right to be a tiny bit concerned.
Even then you’d have to super, super unlucky.
I assume that it’s not the kind of trip you were planning?
Edited by jdw100 on Friday 22 November 11:35
Edited by jdw100 on Friday 22 November 11:48
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