Six Dead in Laos After Methanol Poisoning at Backpacker Hostel

Families demand accountability and increased safety measures following the deaths of six tourists from tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng.

Six tourists, including young women from Australia, Denmark, and the UK, and an American man, died after consuming methanol-tainted alcohol at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Laos.
Survivor Bethany Clarke described feeling paralyzed and fainting after drinking free shots of vodka and whisky offered at the hostel bar.
The Laos government has provided limited information on the investigation, with eight hostel staff reportedly arrested and the hostel shut down, but families have not been updated on progress.
Parents of the victims are urging the Laos government to take stronger actions to prevent future tragedies and to ensure the safety of travelers in the region.
Methanol poisoning, often linked to bootleg alcohol, can be fatal even in small doses, and the incident has highlighted the dangers of unregulated alcohol in tourist hotspots.