Overview

• Calum Macdonald described a “kaleidoscopic, blinding light” and permanent vision loss after free whisky and vodka shots tainted with methanol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng in November 2024.
• He has joined families of six tourists who died in the tragedy to press the UK Foreign Office for clearer alerts targeting students and gap-year travellers.
• Campaigners are calling for methanol-poisoning risks to be taught in schools, introduced during university orientations and highlighted in airport advisories.
• Laotian prosecutors have brought health and business-related charges against 13 former hostel and distillery workers but stopped short of homicide counts, drawing criticism from victims’ relatives.
• The former Nana Backpacker Hostel reopened under a new name in June despite ongoing investigations, raising concerns over unregulated spirits in popular tourist hubs.