Please share this with young people going on holiday/travelling and keep them safe

[highlandcoo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l0057d41/man-tells-bbc-how-he-was-poisoned-by-drinks-on-holiday

I'm part of this group of bereaved families and friends, working to spread awareness about the dangers of methanol poisoning.
It's so much more widespread than is generally realised. As well as typical backpacker destinations like Vietnam, Indonesia and Laos, it's now happening in holiday resorts in Turkey, Greece and recently, we have heard, even Mallorca.
And this is the time of year when young people are heading off on holiday or on gap years. We want them to travel and have a great experience, but to be well informed about this risk so that they come home safely.
Everyone knows about spiking and we need the dangers of methanol to be equally well understood.

I’m so sorry for your loss 💔 this is terrifying

Thank you. It really is. I had never heard of it until I found out in the worst possible way.

The BBC have done so well spreading awareness today, and we have a website:
methanolawareness.com where people can find out more and survivors can share their stories.

And young people will be taught about it in schools in England and Wales from next year. Not Scotland, NI or the Republic of Ireland yet. That is a work in progress.

Ironicallly my kids mentioned this to me. I went travelling to se Asia earlier this year. So sorry for your loss and agree it needs to be publicized.

So very sorry for your loss. I’ve followed the story, and as a mother of teenagers, it made me feel so sad. Thank you for sharing. Take care. ❤️

Thank you for sharing. I will encourage my daughter to read this, and also share with her friends. So sorry for your loss.

So incredibly sorry for your loss.

Is there a Facebook page or anything like that I can share? I don't have an iplayer account so can't watch or share the video.

I had heard about this previously but today’s bbc news reminded me. I actually googled to see if I could get some test strips or something to check drinks when out and about. I have a browser page open to remind me to keep looking into it but if anyone knows of a simple portable method to test drinks I’d be grateful.

Thank you for all your kind messages.

@Crispell there's a useful Facebook page called Just Don't Drink Spirits in Bali (but the advice applies to lots of other countries) set up by a great Australian guy, Colin Ahearn. He hasn't lost anyone personally but simply feels it's such an important message. There's a link to our website and I hope our group interview will be posted there soon.

@imnottoofussed there have been attempts to develop testing strips however so far they don't work quickly enough to be practical. I'm sure it must be possible though, and we're keeping an eye on developments. There was also talk of a type of breathalyser to detect methanol on your breath .. although it's clearly more important to avoid ingesting it in the first place. It would help with diagnosis though.

@Radiatorvalves that's brilliant that your kids were informing you. How had they heard about methanol poisoning can I ask? So many people have no idea what it is.

@highlandcoo not too sure. They are late teens and friends were travelling and they read the news I think. I had seen it myself… but I was pleased they’d picked up on it. I largely stuck to beer as a result (wasn’t a boozy trip and Vietnamese wine isn’t quite my thing). I’ll be reminding them if they head in that direction. Xx

This is awful well done op for publishing it
I also feel spiking should be taught in school which may help future victims but also stop future spikers
Because the issue is around drinks is there a test for all of it ?

I think spiking is making its way into most PSHE lessons now @TheFateNdoftheWedge which is as it should be. What they do to guard against this new type of spiking involving needles God knows though. Dreadful.

At the moment there isn't an available test to check drinks are safe. They've been experimenting with testing strips but they're not rapid enough yet to be effective. I feel it must be possible though and we are monitoring this.