Britons who are planning on travelling to Fiji have been warned of their drinks being spiked with methanol.
Fiji reported a 15 per cent increase in UK visitors for the first quarter of this year when compared to 2023, which exceeded pre-pandemic numbers.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) alerted Britons of the ongoing dangers in Fiji.
It said: “Alcoholic drinks containing methanol have caused serious illness. There is a risk of methanol poisoning from home-brewed alcohol or counterfeit replicas of well-known alcohol brands.”
Britons have been warned of their drinks being spiked in Fiji
PA
The FCDO listed the drinks that may be affected.
Drinks which could contain methanol
- Local spirits
- Spirit-based mixed drinks such as cocktails
- Counterfeit brand-name spirit
It added: “If the label, smell or taste seems wrong, do not drink the alcohol. These are signs it is illegal and could contain methanol.
“Seek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with show signs of methanol poisoning.”
To try and protect yourself from methanol poisoning, the FCDO advised the following.
- Buy alcoholic drinks only from licensed liquor stores, bars, clubs, restaurants, and hotels
- Avoid home-made alcoholic drinks
- Check bottle seals are intact
- Check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling
Britons have been advised to buy alcoholic drinks only from licensed liquor stores, bars, clubs, restaurants, and hotels
GETTY
The FCDO has also recently warned Britons of counterfeit alcohol in Turkey.
The FCDO stated: “People have died or suffered a serious illness in Istanbul, Turkey after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol.”
Holidaymakers were told: “If you have any concerns, ask for advice from your tour operator or the Turkish authorities.
“Seek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with falls ill after drinking alcohol.”
