Australians urged to avoid Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky due to 'safety concerns' after methanol poisoning in Laos
Duong Duc Toan, the manager of Nana Backpack hostel holds up a bottle of Tiger Vodka at the establishment in Vang Vieng, Laos. (AP: Anupam Nath)
In short:
Lao authorities have banned the sale of a vodka and whisky brand that may be linked to the deaths of six tourists, including two Australians.
Hostel manager, Duong Duc Toan, told AP he gave free shots of spirits to the group, and posed for photos holding a bottle of Tiger Vodka.
What's next?
Australian government website Smartraveller has also urged Australians to avoid Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky due to "serious safety concerns".
Authorities in Laos have banned the sale and consumption of one brand of vodka and whisky after the deaths of six tourists from suspected methanol poisoning.
Australian Government website Smartraveller has issued a fresh warning about drinking in Laos — urging Australians to avoid Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky due to "serious safety concerns".
Lao authorities have prohibited the sale and consumption of both products following the deaths of six tourists, including Australian teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, from suspected methanol poisoning.
"Australians should avoid consuming these products due to these serious safety concerns," the updated Smartraveller alert states.
"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."
A night of free shots ends in tragedy
Media reports have previously suggested a bottle of Tiger Vodka costs just $2.50 in the shops just down the road from the Nana Backpackers Hostel where it's believed all six travellers were staying.
The hostel manager, Duong Duc Toan earlier told the Associated Press he gave away free shots of the drink to about 100 guests as a gesture of hospitality on the night more than a dozen tourists fell ill.
Duong Duc Toan says the establishment stopped giving away free shots after the incident, but denied any wrongdoing. (AP: Anupam Nath)
At the time, he said no other guest reported any issue, adding that the Australian women had then gone for a night out, returning in the early hours of the morning.
Earlier this week, eight staff from the hostel were detained but no charges have been laid.
Duong Duc Toan told AP the hostel served the shots but denied it was the Tiger Vodka that made the girls sick.
He said he bought the alcohol from a certified distributor and insisted it had not been tainted by himself or his staff.
The owner of the hostel, Duong van Huan has repeatedly denied to the ABC that the poisoned drinks came from his bar, and said he has been in business for almost 11 years, and it was the first time something like this had happened.
"I really take care of all the customers [who] stay with our hotel and our hostel," he told the ABC earlier this week.
"I'm not doing anything wrong with all of the customer.
"I'm scared it happened. I lose a lot of customer, no customer right now, nobody stay, I'm very sad as well about my business."
Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles were holidaying in Vang Vieng in Laos when they fell ill. (ABC News: Mitchell Woolnough)
Duong van Huan is one of eight staff members detained by police in Laos as they investigate the tragic case, which has claimed the lives of six people.