UK Issues Warning to Nigeria and Other Nations Over Rising Deaths from Methanol-Contaminated Alcohol
Story: written by Zara October 23,2025
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a health alert to Nigeria, Kenya, and several other nations following an alarming rise in methanol poisoning cases caused by fake alcoholic beverages.
The updated travel advisory, reported by the BBC, highlights increasing global concern over the spread of illicit and toxic alcohol products that have led to numerous deaths across different regions. The caution comes after a series of tragic incidents, including the deaths of six tourists in Laos last year linked to methanol-laced drinks.
Originally, the FCDO’s methanol warning applied to countries such as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Fiji. The list has now expanded to include Nigeria, Kenya, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and Uganda.
Methanol is an industrial chemical typically used in products like antifreeze and windscreen washer fluids. While safe for external industrial purposes, it becomes lethal when ingested. According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), methanol turns poisonous inside the body, breaking down into harmful compounds such as formic acid and formaldehyde that attack the central nervous system and organs.
BBC reports explain that symptoms of methanol poisoning often appear several hours after consumption, once the liver starts metabolizing the substance. The resulting toxins can cause blindness, organ failure, coma, and even death.
Medical experts have repeatedly warned that adulterated alcoholic drinks—usually produced illegally to cut costs—pose a major public health threat. MSF estimates that these counterfeit beverages cause thousands of deaths each year, with fatality rates ranging between 20% and 40%.
The FCDO’s latest alert calls on governments and consumers to take stronger steps to regulate alcohol production, monitor markets, and raise awareness about the dangers of unregulated drinks, especially in developing nations where illegal alcohol trade is common.
Warning signs of methanol poisoning:
Victims may initially show symptoms resembling ordinary drunkenness. However, within 12 to 48 hours, more serious signs appear, including:
- Blurred or loss of vision
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness and confusion
- Brain damage, coma, or death
Safety advice for travellers:
Tourists and residents are advised to:
- Purchase only sealed alcoholic beverages from licensed sellers
- Avoid home-brewed or locally mixed drinks
- Be cautious of drinks served in jugs or buckets, which often contain unregulated mixtures
- Seek immediate medical attention if any symptoms occur after consuming alcohol
Health authorities warn that methanol poisoning remains a growing global issue, driven by illegal production networks that substitute ethanol with the cheaper but deadly methanol to increase profit margins.
