Overview
- The newly covered destinations are Ecuador, Kenya, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda and Russia.
- Guidance now spans 16 countries, building on existing notices for Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Fiji.
- The FCDO advises buying sealed drinks from licensed venues, avoiding homemade alcohol, and treating pre-mixed spirit drinks with caution.
- Authorities warn that even small amounts of methanol can cause blindness or death, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion and vision problems often appearing within 12–48 hours.
- The update follows increased reports of serious illness and deaths overseas, with ministers fronting a Travel Aware ‘Know the Signs’ campaign after high-profile cases including fatalities in Laos in 2024.