cover of episode Laos tourist deaths: How dangerous is fake alcohol?

Laos tourist deaths: How dangerous is fake alcohol?

2024/11/26
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What in the World

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Hannah Gelbart
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Michelle Roberts
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William Lee Adams
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Hannah Gelbart介绍了事件背景,指出老挝万荣镇发生六名游客疑似甲醇中毒身亡事件,引发国际关注。该镇以其面向背包客的派对文化而闻名,廉价酒精和免费酒水是其特色。事件凸显了当地假酒的严重问题和游客的安全隐患。 William Lee Adams详细介绍了受害者的信息,包括五名女性和一名男性,年龄在19至57岁之间,来自不同国家。他指出,虽然所有受害者都住在同一间旅馆,但目前尚不清楚甲醇是如何进入他们饮品中的。旅馆工作人员已被问话,但尚未提出指控。他分析了东南亚地区甲醇中毒事件频发的原因,主要在于监管不力以及当地生产商为了降低成本而使用甲醇。他补充说,甲醇中毒不仅影响游客,也影响当地居民,在印度和伊朗都有大量因饮用含有甲醇的私酿酒而导致的死亡案例。 Michelle Roberts解释了甲醇的特性和危害。甲醇是一种工业化学品,存在于挡风玻璃清洗液和防冻液等产品中,不适合人类饮用。饮用含有甲醇的酒初期症状与普通酒精相似,但数小时后会造成严重的器官损伤,产生甲酸、甲酸盐和甲醛等有毒物质,攻击神经和器官,可能导致失明、癫痫发作、昏迷甚至死亡。她建议游客选择有许可证的酒吧,并避免饮用自制饮料。 采访的背包客们分享了他们的经历和感受,他们表示对饮酒更加谨慎,避免饮用免费酒水,并提醒其他游客注意安全。 一些背包客讲述了他们事后改变行为方式的经历,他们对免费酒水和当地饮酒文化更加谨慎,并呼吁其他游客提高警惕,避免饮用来源不明的酒精饮品。他们分享了事件对他们旅行计划和心态的影响,以及他们对未来饮酒行为的改变。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Six tourists died in Vang Vieng, Laos, after suspected methanol poisoning. The victims, mostly young women, were staying at the same hostel, which is now closed. Backpackers are now more cautious about drinking alcohol in the region, opting for sealed drinks instead of free shots or buckets.
  • Six tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, Laos.
  • Victims were mostly young women staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel.
  • Backpackers are now more wary of free drinks and consuming unsealed alcohol.

Shownotes Transcript

The town of Van Vieng in Laos is a popular stop for backpackers traveling through Southeast Asia. But after six tourists died earlier this month following suspected methanol poisoning, many tourists are re-thinking their itineraries and how they drink. We hear from some of them.

Also: William from the What in the World team tells us about the victims in Laos and looks at alcohol poisoning around the world. And BBC Digital Health Editor Michelle Roberts explains how methanol affects the body and what symptoms people my experience after consuming it.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden Editor: Rosanna La-Falce