‘Serious safety concerns’: Warning over vodka, whisky after Laos tragedy

A grim warning has been issued to Australians following the deaths of Melbourne teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowle, who died in Laos after suspected methanol poisonings.

Ms Jones and Ms Bowles, both 19, died in Thai hospitals last week after falling ill with suspected methanol poisoning.

The pair, who were on a “trip of a lifetime” travelling across Southeast Asia, are believed to have consumed tainted alcohol while staying in popular tourist hotspot Vang Vieng in Laos.

The suspected poisoning also took the lives of four other international tourists – a British woman, an American man and two Danes.

It’s understood a third Australian has become ill following the suspected poisoning.

Laos authorities have now moved to prohibit the sale and consumption of Tiger vodka and Tiger whisky over concerns they could be a “health risk”.

“Australians should avoid consuming these products due to these serious safety concerns,” a Smartraveller alert stated.

“Several foreign nationals, including Australians, have been victims in November 2024 of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks.

“Be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails.”

On Tuesday, it was announced that eight men, aged 23-47, had been arrested over the suspected mass methanol poisoning.

As the arrests were announced, the bodies of Ms Jones and Ms Bowles landed at Melbourne airport.

Their parents, who were on the same flight, spoke to the media, with Ms Jones’s father Mark saying he was happy to hear there’d been updates in the investigation.

“We want to grieve, we miss our daughters desperately,” Mr Jones said.

“I was happy to hear that there’s been some movement over in Laos, we cannot have our girls passing and this continuing to happen.”

The Laotian government earlier released a statement on Saturday saying it was “profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists”.

“The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law,” it said.