Calum Macdonald, 23, lost his sight after surviving mass methanol poisoning while backpacking in Vang Vieng, Laos. He joined bereaved families to meet travel industry representatives in parliament to press for greater public warnings about methanol risks. Campaigners call for specific posters and in-flight announcements to alert travellers to the dangers of contaminated or mislabelled alcoholic drinks. The Foreign Office said it is addressing the issue through its Travel Aware campaign with local authorities and over 150 travel industry partners. A fellow traveller, Simone White, 28, died in 2024 after consuming free shots at the same hostel. Campaigners urge alcohol-safety education in schools.
I think it's important that people know obviously because it's quite a simple bit of information you can get that can really save you a lot of pain
In the hospital in Vietnam, I was there for two or three weeks, and at that point my vision was totally black," he said. "I was thinking, 'I'll be fine', for the first week. It wasn't really until probably January or February I think when I found out that it was going to be really sort of a permanent, long-term thing.
All these youngsters have died unnecessarily, and it could have been so easily avoided if there had been more awareness, if there had been more knowledge, and if they'd had it taught in schools.
tackling this issue head-on, working with local authorities and over 150 travel industry partners
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