The Hidden Danger Lurking in Vacation Spots
Over the last decade, a disturbing number of tourists have fallen ill or even died after consuming counterfeit alcohol, especially in parts of the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. The culprit? Tainted alcohol laced with methanol, which can cause blindness, organ failure, and even death. The issue of fake alcohol is a growing concern in tourism-heavy areas where regulatory oversight may be lax and counterfeit booze can slip undetected into the supply chain.
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What is Counterfeit Alcohol?
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How Do Hotels Get Counterfeit Alcohol?
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Geographic Hotspots: Why Asia and the Caribbean?
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Symptoms of Tainted Booze
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What To Do If You Suspect Tainted Alcohol
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How to Stay Safe
- Inspect bottles for seals and labels.
- Avoid opaque or unmarked alcohol.
- Purchase alcohol from reputable establishments (duty-free, branded hotels).
- Use apps like Vivino to scan labels.
- Stick to beer or sealed beverages when unsure.
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If You Drink Tainted Alcohol
- Seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Do not sleep it off—methanol poisoning can escalate quickly.
- Administer ethanol as an antidote only under medical supervision.
- Contact the nearest- embassy or consulate
- Save the bottle/receipt if possible.
- File a report with the hotel and local health authorities.
- Notify your travel insurer for possible evacuation support.
Counterfeit alcohol is alcohol that has been illegally made and resembles name-brand alcohol. It is often made with antifreeze, nail polish remover, and even paint stripper. It will frequently look like legitimate alcohol, but with fake labels. Look for misspellings on the labels or poor-quality caps. It is usually cheaper than real alcohol, so if something seems too good to be true price-wise, it probably is. It will likely smell much different than legitimate alcohol, more like nail polish remover or paint stripper, so always smell your drink before taking a sip.
You may wonder why hotels have it in the first place—are they making their own to cut corners? (probably not.) More than likely, suppliers swap it out for cheaper alternatives and then sell it to the hotels. Hotel staff could also refill bottles of bootleg liquor in the hotels to cut costs. Supply chains are vulnerable in some areas of the world thanks to poor regulation, so counterfeit alcohol can easily slip through the cracks.
Regions reliant on tourism can become a target for counterfeit alcohol due to the high alcohol demand (people tend to drink more when on vacation), weak enforcement in the area, and a lack of health infrastructure for the proper screening of food and drink. The most recent (and most prominent) cases have been in 2024 in Laos, when six tourists died after drinking methanol-laced vodka at a hostel, in 2022 in Bali , and in 2021 in the Dominican Republic .
If you fail to recognize that you have had fake alcohol, catching your symptoms early is vital to your safety and health. Methanol metabolizes intoformic acid, which affects the optic nerve, brain, and kidneys. Symptoms include: nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, visual disturbances, seizures, and unconsciousness. Keep in mind that symptoms may not occur until 6-30 hours after consuming the tainted alcohol.
If symptoms begin, seek emergency medical care immediately—methanol poisoning cannot be “slept off.” If you suspect you have methanol poisoning, you must get treated. You should contact the nearest embassy or consulate, save the bottle/receipt, file a report with the hotel and local health authorities, and, if necessary, contact your travel insurer.