Two tourists were recently hospitalized in Thailand after reportedly consuming a tainted drink in the neighboring nation of Laos.
The Alcohol Poisoning Incident
Two 19-year-old women from Melbourne fell ill while on a backpacking trip in Laos, according to a report from the Australian newspaper The Age. The incident occurred in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, said Tuesday that staff were alerted by other guests about the women’s condition after they missed their scheduled checkout on November 13. Hostel staff arranged transportation to a hospital for the two travelers, he added.
According to Toan, the women had participated in a hostel-sponsored event two days earlier, joining over 100 guests for complimentary shots of Lao vodka as part of a hospitality offering. He noted that no other guests reported any issues and said the women went out later that evening, returning in the early hours of the morning.
A woman is seen in the tourist village of Vang Vieng, Laos, on November 19, 2024. An Australian news outlet reported that two tourists were recently hospitalized in Thailand after drinking a tainted drink in Laos.
AP Photo/Anupam Nath/AP Photo/Anupam Nath
Treatment for the Tourists
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is offering consular support to two Australian citizens and their families currently in Thailand. Due to privacy concerns, the department declined to provide additional details.
“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” the Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said, according to The Associated Press (AP).
The women were later transferred to Thailand for medical care and are now receiving treatment at hospitals in Bangkok and Udon Thani, The Age reported. Their parents have traveled to Thailand to be by their side.
The exact beverage the two consumed remains unclear, but methanol—a toxic substance occasionally used as a substitute for alcohol in drinks at unscrupulous establishments—is known to cause severe poisoning and can be fatal.
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng, a hotspot for backpackers drawn to its lively party scene and adventure sports, showed no signs of disruption Tuesday evening. The area around the hostel remained bustling with activity as bars and food stalls continued to operate as usual.
Jasmine Antonius, a Dutch tourist visiting Vang Vieng for the past three days, said the incident prompted her to exercise greater caution with drinks during her stay.
“I think sometimes you’re not really watching how your drinks are being made,” Antonius said to the AP. “I feel now it’s a wake up call for many people since this happened. So I hope people would take more precaution because it’s really sad.”
Reports suggesting that other tourists may have been poisoned in the same incident could not be immediately verified.
Toan, the hostel manager, expressed hope that the investigation would exonerate the establishment. In the meantime, he said, the hostel has suspended its practice of offering complimentary shots to guests.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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