Six foreign tourists, including British lawyer Simone White, died from methanol poisoning in Laos after drinking Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey produced by a factory near the capital Vientiane. The tourists were staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng when they became ill. Authorities shut down the factory and banned the sale of the drinks until safety and quality standards are met. The Ministry of Health’s Department of Food and Drugs in Laos is overseeing the situation.
Photos of the factory show blue plastic drapes covering piles of empty bottles and remnants of a small fire outside. Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the poisoning, including two Indian men, a Filipino woman working at the hostel, and others. No charges have been filed yet. The factory will not be allowed to operate until improvements are made to ensure safety and quality in production, according to reports. The incident has led to the deaths of six tourists and illness in several others.
The tragic deaths of the six tourists, including British national Simone White, have sparked an investigation and crackdown on the factory believed to be the source of the methanol poisoning. Australian best friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, two Danish women, and a US man also lost their lives after consuming the tainted beverages. Authorities in Laos have taken swift action to shut down the factory and ban the sale of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey.
Efforts are being made to hold those responsible for the methanol poisoning accountable, with twelve individuals arrested so far in connection with the incident. Among those detained are two Indian men, a Filipino woman working at the hostel, and others involved in the production and distribution of the drinks. The situation remains under investigation, and authorities are working to ensure that proper measures are put in place to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The closure of the factory and the ban on the sale of the contaminated beverages are part of the government’s response to the methanol poisoning that claimed the lives of the six tourists. The Ministry of Health’s Department of Food and Drugs in Laos has taken steps to oversee the situation and ensure that safety and quality standards are met before the factory can resume operations. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of alcohol products in the country and the need for stringent regulations to protect consumers.
As the investigation into the methanol poisoning continues, authorities are working to determine the full extent of the contamination and identify those responsible for the tragic deaths of the tourists in Laos. The arrests made in connection with the case highlight the seriousness of the situation and the need for accountability. The government’s actions to shut down the factory and ban the sale of the tainted drinks are aimed at preventing further harm to the public and ensuring that such incidents do not occur again.
