It can ruin holidays, and end lives - but being armed with a
few simple tips can help travellers minimise the risk of methanol poisoning.
Beware: If the cocktails seem ridiculously cheap, you’re
probably better to steer clear.
Beware: If the cocktails seem ridiculously cheap, you’re
probably better to steer clear. Source: ThinkStock
Top tips to avoid methanol poisoning
But the risk of methanol poisoning isn’t confined to Bali, a
travel expert has warned.
It’s also common in other parts of the world, including
Eastern Europe, travel safety specialist Phil Sylvester from Travel Insurance
Direct says.
But in Bali, arak - or Balinese moonshine - is the most well
known source of methanol poisoning.
Just a small amount of methanol could send you blind, and a
decent shot could kill you, Mr Sylvester says. In 2009, 25 people were killed
by one single batch.
The symptoms of methanol poisoning can start immediately,
with headaches, dizziness, amnesia and drowsiness. The next symptoms can
include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, blurred vision, hallucinations, seeing
skin over your eyes, snowstorms, dancing spots and flashes of light.
When it comes to avoiding the risk the obvious answer is to
steer clear of drinking altogether, but Mr Sylvester admits that’s not
practical advice.
“We recognise that people are on holidays and are going to
have a few drinks. We’re not wowsers about that,” he said.
He recommends avoiding drinks labelled as arak, but being
aware of other drinks that may be laced with the cheaper spirit.
“A bar owner concerned only about profit will lace the
drinks with the cheaper stuff,” he says.
“It’s hard to say don’t drink crazy cocktails in Bali, but
good rule of thumb is if the drinks seem ludicrously cheap, even for Bali, it’s
not a good idea.”
Mr Sylvester warns that from a travel insurance perspective,
intentionally drinking to excess can leave you in the lurch when it comes to
claiming.
“When something goes wrong when you’re on holidays - if it’s
as a direct result of being drunk, you’re probably not going to be covered,” he
said.
“But methanol poisoning can affect you with just one drink -
so it’s very likely you would be covered.”
The new observational-documentary series What Really Happens
In Bali gives a no-holds-barred look at what really goes down in Australia's
favourite tourist destination. The series is narrated by Corinne Grant.
Courtesy Channel Seven.
Phil Sylvester’s top tips to avoid methanol poisoning:
1. Don’t drink arak. Even the official stuff can be
adulterated.
2. Don’t drink spirits (including cocktails). While this is
hard, it is the only way to be certain no local substitutes have been used. If
you are going to drink spirits buy the whole bottle of a brand you know, make
sure it’s sealed and open it yourself to share with friends. Or, drink beer!
3. If you start to feeling any symptoms get yourself to
hospital as soon as possible.
4. Know and understand the signs of methanol poisoning for
yourself and any friends:
- Difficulty breathing
- Blurred vision
- Agitation
- Dizziness
- Stomach pain
5. Be aware of methanol drink spiking across the globe. It
is not unique to Bali, but also pretty common in Eastern Europe.
Recent incidents involving Australian tourists in Bali:
• Tess Mettam, from Perth, became ill and went blind for two
days after drinking two cocktails at a Kuta Bar in December.
• Perth teenager Liam Davies, 19, died after drinking a
methanol-laced cocktail on the Island of Lombok on New Year’s Day, 2013.
• Two 18-year-old Australians, a male and a female, were
blinded after drinking cocktails during separate schoolies trips to Bali in
November and December 2012.
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