UK warns Nigeria, Kenya, others over rising cases of methanol-laced alcohol

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning to Nigeria, Kenya, and six other countries following a surge in methanol poisoning cases linked to counterfeit alcoholic drinks.

The expanded advisory reflects mounting global concern over the spread of toxic beverages that continue to cause deaths in several parts of the world.

According to a BBC report, the caution follows a series of fatal incidents, including the deaths of six tourists in Laos last year.

Previously, the FCDO’s methanol warning covered Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Fiji.

It has now been broadened to include Nigeria, Kenya, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and Uganda.

Methanol, a chemical commonly used in antifreeze and other industrial products, becomes highly poisonous when consumed.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) explained that while methanol itself is not toxic, it turns into dangerous compounds such as formic acid and formaldehyde once ingested, posing serious risks to human health.

The BBC reported that the danger often emerges hours after consumption as the liver attempts to metabolise the substance.

This process produces toxic by-products that damage nerves and organs, leading to blindness, coma, and even death.

Health experts have raised alarms over the rising production of adulterated alcoholic drinks, often made illegally to cut costs and maximise profits. According to MSF, such counterfeit alcohol is responsible for thousands of deaths each year, with fatality rates ranging between 20 and 40 percent.

The FCDO’s expanded alert underscores the urgent need for stronger regulation, better public awareness, and stricter monitoring systems, especially in countries with thriving informal alcohol markets.

In cases of methanol poisoning, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, difficulty in breathing, and in severe cases, coma or death.

Experts warn that early symptoms can mimic normal alcohol intoxication, but distinctive signs, especially visual disturbances, usually appear 12 to 48 hours after consumption.

Travellers and consumers are being urged to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they notice any symptoms after drinking alcohol.

The FCDO also cautioned the public to buy only sealed alcoholic beverages from licensed outlets and avoid homemade brews, pre-mixed spirits, or drinks served in unsealed containers, which are more likely to contain dangerous levels of methanol.

While methanol is widely used in industrial applications, it becomes deadly when ingested, often as a result of illegal alcohol producers using it to cut costs.

Health authorities warn that the growing prevalence of such practices poses a serious global public health threat, claiming thousands of lives each year.