Heading off on holiday or a backpacking adventure? Whether it’s Bali, Thailand, Spain or Greece or somewhere else sunny, it’s all about good vibes, great nights out, and making memories. But here’s the thing: while you’re busy soaking up the fun, it’s easy to forget about the risks that can come with alcoholic drinks or spiking.
No one wants their trip abroad to turn into a trip to the hospital, so it’s worth knowing how to help yourself stay safe. Let’s break it down.
What is spiking?
Spiking is when someone sneaks something into your drink, like drugs or harmful substances, without you knowing. It can be done to make you blackout, incapacitated, or worse.
What is methanol poisoning?
Methanol is toxic even in small amounts. It is an industrial alcohol made from distilling wood and can be found in many commercial products, like antifreeze, fuel and paint thinners. In some parts of the world methanol products are sometimes illegally mixed with ‘real’ alcohol such as spirit-based drinks and cocktails.
Check FCDO travel advice for your destination and sign up to email alerts for the most up-to-date information before you travel.
How to spot spiking
It’s not always obvious when a drink has been tampered with, but here’s what to look out for:
- Methanol poisoning: Symptoms hit harder and faster than regular alcohol. If you’re suddenly dizzy, nauseous, or struggling to see properly after just a couple of drinks, something’s off.
- Drug spiking: Feeling more drunk than you should, drowsy, or confused could mean your drink’s been tampered with. Some people experience hallucinations, paranoia, and memory blackouts. Trust your gut—if something feels wrong, it probably is.
How to reduce the risk of spiking
Here’s how to keep your drink (and yourself) safe while enjoying a night out:
- Keep an eye on your drink and do not leave it unattended. If it smells or tastes odd, do not drink it.
- Do not accept drinks from strangers.
- Alcohol can hit harder abroad because measures are sometimes larger abroad, and dehydration from heat can make you feel worse.
- Check FCDO travel advice for your destination and sign up to email alerts for the most up-to-date information before you travel.
- Check Stamp Out Spiking for more information on how to prevent spiking.
- Plan your trip home. Arrange transport before going out and note the address of where you’re staying.
How to spot the signs of methanol poisoning
Spotting methanol poisoning can be difficult because at first it can affect you in the same ways as ‘real’ alcohol. Signs to watch for:
- Early signs: vomiting, poor judgement, loss of balance and drowsiness.
- 12-48 hours after drinking: abdominal pain, vertigo, hyperventilation, breathlessness, blurred vision and/or blindness, coma and convulsions. If you or someone you are travelling with have any of these symptoms seek urgent medical attention.
- Vision issues are a red flag and can also appear 12-48 hours after the first drink. Methanol poisoning can cause blurry vision, trouble looking at bright lights, and in some cases complete blindness. If you have “snowfield vision” (seeing snowy static like an old TV) or tunnel vision seek urgent medical help.
Urgent medical attention could save your life or prevent serious complications.
How to reduce the risk of methanol poisoning
It is not possible to completely remove the risks from methanol poisoning when drinking alcohol but you can take steps to reduce the risk:
- Avoid homemade or streetside alcohol. Don’t drink from unlabelled bottles. Local spirits or homemade alcohol are high risk.
- Stick to licensed places. Only buy your drinks from licenced liquor stores, bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels.
- Check bottles. Stick to sealed or bottled drinks. Seals should be intact, labels aren’t always accurate and can be counterfeit.
- Be cautious about spirits, cocktails, shots, unusually cheap or free drinks. Pre-mixed cocktails served in “buckets” or jugs in tourist areas can be high risk.
How is methanol poisoning treated?
If you suspect methanol poisoning, either for yourself or a mate, you need to act fast. Timing is critical. Here’s what to do:
- Get medical help straight away. Don’t wait to “see if it gets better.” Call for emergency help or head to the nearest hospital.
- What doctors will do: They’ll give you an antidote like ethanol or a drug called Fomepizole to stop methanol from turning toxic in your body. You might also get dialysis to flush out the methanol and fix the damage.
- Time matters: Treatment is most effective within 10–30 hours of drinking methanol. Don’t delay.