Eight countries have been added to the UK Foreign Office's list warning of the risks of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or tainted alcoholic drinks.
Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda are included in updated travel guidance following incidents involving Britons in those countries.
Previous recommendations covered Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica and Fiji and followed a number of high-profile incidents, including the death of six tourists in Laos last year.
Travelers are advised to watch for signs of methanol poisoning, such as blurred vision and confusion, which can lead to serious illness and death.
Methanol is an industrial chemical found in antifreeze and windshield washer fluid. It is not intended for human consumption and is highly toxic.
But there have been cases of unscrupulous brewers adding methanol to drinks to keep them moving forward, and some bars and street vendors mixing it into spirits and cocktails to cut costs.
The Foreign Office has launched a new advertising campaign and updated its travel advice pages to include information on recognizing symptoms and reducing the risk of methanol poisoning.
UK citizens traveling abroad are advised to purchase sealed drinks from licensed establishments and avoid homemade alcohol and pre-mixed spirits, cocktails and drinks served in buckets or jugs.
Travelers are advised to watch for signs of poisoning, which include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion. Experts say methanol poisoning in its early stages can resemble alcohol poisoning, but distinctive symptoms, such as vision problems, can develop 12 to 48 hours after consumption.
People with signs of methanol poisoning should seek emergency medical attention immediately.
The Foreign Office did not disclose details of specific incidents in any of the new countries on the alert list.
But Morgan, a British woman who contacted BBC Newsbeat about a recent visit to Japan, said her experience of bars there suggested tourists were unaware of the potential risks.
“The offer would be, 'Come and have a free shot with me—we have tequila, we have vodka,'” she said.
“Obviously you take them at their word. In this sense it is quite dangerous. There were a lot of other tourists there just taking shots, just drinking, not seeing where the bottle came from.”
Last month campaigners and families of some Britons killed or injured by methanol poisoning abroad met with representatives of the tourism industry and members of parliament.
Among them was Amanda Dennis, representing the family of Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from Orpington who was one of six tourists who died in 2024 after taking free jabs at a hostel in Laos.
She said the Foreign Office should go further with its latest warning.
“The advice should be: do not buy alcoholic beverages in these countries, including from licensed premises,” she said. “If people want to drink spirits in these countries, they should buy spirits from duty free shops in the UK.”
She also suggested that the Foreign Office display posters highlighting the problem of methanol poisoning at UK airports.
Calum Macdonald was traveling in Laos when he became a victim of methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng and went blind.
The 23-year-old from Sunbury-on-Thames said: “I think it's important that people know obviously because it's quite simple information you can get that can really save you a lot of misery.
“I certainly think that if I had understood the risks, I would not be here today without my vision.”
Hamish Falconer, the Foreign Secretary with responsibility for consular and crisis affairs, said: “Methanol poisoning can kill. It may be difficult to detect when alcohol use and early symptoms reflect normal alcohol poisoning. By the time travelers realize the danger, it may be too late.”
He added: “No family should have to go through what the campaigners' families have gone through. Their determination to prevent others from facing the same tragedy has been instrumental in pushing forward these vital updates to our travel advice.”
