Ella Scott
Holidaymakers should stay attentive when supping on alcohol in Thailand amid the ‘accidental and unexpected’ death of a British tourist.
Despite the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advising against all but essential travel to parts of Thailand, some flights with stopovers are still going ahead.
The suggestion comes amid escalation in the Middle East, which has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights, as well as a spike in fuel prices.
Anyone going ahead with Thailand plans has been warned by the government to stay vigilant with their alcoholic drinks.
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Officials have urged tourists not to leave consumables unattended or accept beverages from people they do not know.
“Drinks served in bars are often stronger than those in the UK,” the British Government said.
“Alcohol and drugs can make you less alert and more vulnerable to accidents, injuries, robbery and assaults.”
The deterrent comes amid a rise in alcohol spiking incidents, with a 38-year-old Londoner one of the most recent casualties, as per reports.
Yoga teacher Tom Pardhy and his partner, 31-year-old Naomi Raksha, had spent six weeks travelling before reaching Bangkok, where the latter was rushed to hospital in a tuk-tuk, The Sun wrote.
Hours after Raksha was admitted, Pardhy was found unresponsive, with his death being described as ‘sudden, accidental and unexpected’.
According to a Facebook post written by Raksha’s mother, the pair were allegedly given ‘spiked drinks’ in the Thai capital, laced with ‘heroin and cocaine’.
Raksha entered a rehabilitation centre following her hospitalisation, with her family setting up a GoFundMe page for further support.
The Foreign Office has also confirmed the death of various tourists who have died after consuming drinks spiked with methanol - a highly toxic, flammable substance used in antifreeze or windshield washer fluid.
Methanol is extremely dangerous to humans, with health officials stating that ‘even small amounts can kill’.
It may not possible to identify methanol in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell.
Symptoms of methanol poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain, hyperventilation and blurry vision, according to Alicia Hempsted, a travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket.
"If you experience any of the symptoms of methanol poisoning, or suspect you may have consumed it, you must seek immediate medical attention. Treatments can include an antidote or dialysis, depending on how advanced the poisoning is,” she added, as per The Mirror.
In November, travellers heading to Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, and Uganda were also warned about an uptick in methanol poisoning.
Anyone who drinks alcohol in Thailand should also pre-arrange transport home so that you don’t endanger yourself by accepting lifts in unlicensed vehicles, officials added.