Bangkok: Laos is still investigating the cause of death of six tourists. According to Thai News Agency, Lao authorities have stated that they have been unable to determine the cause of death or hold those involved accountable in the case of six foreign tourists who died after drinking methanol-contaminated alcohol in Vang Vieng in November 2024.
The Lao PDR Ministry of Public Security stated that it was unable to determine the cause of death or prosecute those involved in the deaths of six foreign tourists who allegedly consumed methanol-contaminated liquor in Vang Vieng in November 2024. This was due to the victims' families refusing to allow autopsies, resulting in a lack of necessary forensic evidence to reach a legal conclusion. Previously, the Food and Drug Research Center of the Lao Ministry of Public Health detected excessively high levels of methanol in Tiger Vodka. Subsequently, blood tests from the Australian Embassy and hospitals in Thailand confirmed the presence of methanol contamination in the bloodstream of two Australian teenagers who died.
Lao authorities have banned the sale and consumption of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey nationwide. The distillery owner has been charged with producing or selling products harmful to health and operating illegally, with a maximum prison sentence of only 3 months to 4 years and a fine. The owner continues to deny responsibility. Meanwhile, the owner and 10 employees of Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the tourist stayed and consumed the free drinks before falling ill and dying, have been sentenced to suspended prison terms and fined $185 each for destroying evidence related to the transfer of the deceased American's body to the hospital.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed strong disappointment and dissatisfaction that Laos had not prosecuted the suspect on more serious charges, and announced she would discuss the matter directly with the Laotian Foreign Minister at the ASEAN summit in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Australian, UK, and several other countries have upgraded their travel advisories for Laos, urging citizens to exercise extreme caution when consuming alcoholic beverages or cocktails, to avoid accepting free or unusually cheap drinks, to purchase drinks only from reputable vendors and in sealed bottles or cans, and to be wary of the transparency of Laos' legal system in the event of legal proceedings.