Lifestyle Trend: Travellers heading for 28 destinations in 2026 given major health alert You Should Know

People heading abroad this year have been urged to be cautious over a major threat in some countries

The Foreign Office has flagged 28 countries where methanol poisoning could pose a serious threat to holidaymakers. This includes predicted travel hotspots for 2026 such as Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

Methanol poisoning can be a silent killer – it’s tasteless, colourless and its early symptoms can mimic those of alcohol poisoning, making it a stealthy danger for party-goers. CounterSpike, specialists in preventing drink spiking, have highlighted some red flags travellers should watch out for and five precautionary measures they can adopt.

Methanol is an industrial alcohol that’s sometimes illegally mixed into spirit-based drinks and cocktails to cut corners on costs. Even in small doses, it can wreak havoc, causing irreversible damage like blindness or even death within 48 hours.

The first line of defence is to ensure you’re buying your booze from licensed outlets only. The experts suggest that if you’re unsure about the quality of the tipple at your destination, consider stocking up on spirits from duty-free before flying.

Steer clear of drinking from unlabelled and unsealed bottles, as well as concoctions served in buckets or jugs. Particularly avoid homemade or street-side alcohol as these can be high-risk.

Clear spirits top the list for contamination risk, according to the experts, as they’re simpler and cheaper to counterfeit. Bottled beer proves trickier to tamper with, potentially making it the safer alternative.

Whilst methanol typically lacks taste and colour, it can occasionally give off a faint whiff reminiscent of paint thinner or nail varnish rather than booze. The experts warn: “If you detect this, avoid the drink at all costs!”

Should you experience any indicators of methanol poisoning, get yourself to a doctor sharpish. Watch out for symptoms such as being sick, impaired judgement, wobbly balance or feeling drowsy.

Anywhere from 12 to 48 hours post-consumption, the poisoning can progress to stomach pain, dizziness, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, vision problems including blindness, unconsciousness or fits.

Countries with methanol poisoning risk as listed by the Foreign Office:

• Brazil
• Bangladesh
• Cambodia
• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• Fiji
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Laos
• Libya
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Nigeria
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• Russia
• Rwanda
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Uganda
• Vietnam

Alex Bodikian, Co-Founder of CounterSpike, notes: “Many of the destinations on the warning list remain hugely popular with British travellers.

“While these locations are clearly high on people’s bucket lists, it’s important to remember that they also carry certain risks. We urge anyone planning to visit any of the 28 countries currently on the warning list to proceed with caution and familiarise themselves with the key signs that alcoholic drinks may have been contaminated before travelling.”

More information on methanol poisoning and how to protect yourself can be found on the government’s Travel Aware website.