Laos backpackers avoid shots after suspected Methanol poisonings | BBC News

[@choosehope8729]

Free alcohol or drugs in any country is a bad idea. Even if people aren’t intentionally malicious, learning to have fun sober is a life skill worth mastering

[@jhowardsupporter]

learn to test your drugs and alcohol is even better

[@liamwilson7549]

learn to enjoy juice instead of alcohol.

[@n0b0d1-rc6dz]

@@liamwilson7549 partial to Oolong tea personally

[@liamwilson7549]

@@n0b0d1-rc6dz tea is good too. I like chai the most

[@MarkyTeriyaki0]

100% Been traveling the world sober for the last 2-3 years and it’s been so much better. Why travel across the planet to do the same boring shit you do back home?

[@6789uiop]

The Lonely Planet guide book had a Safety chapter that advised backpackers in Asia to only drink from a bottle that YOU open.

[@enigma0165]

Whole Asia?

[@gregmisener802]

water, beer, whisky, etc

[@zenithchan581]

Westerners are so biased and stereotyped. Asian countries have different forms of government and have different laws and prohibitions. Focusing on each country case by case would be better than stereotype. This kind of bias comes deep down from the discrimination against countries that you see as inferior. It is a habitual stereotype.

[@xelthiavice4276]

@@zenithchan581 all that seems to just be in your head

[@6789uiop]

@@zenithchan581 This is a comment section and not a text book. My family is Asian and I live in Asia.

[@elipotter369]

"The people are nice"...mate, no one thinks they're deliberately killing tourists, but there's hardly any regulation, no oversight of alcohol production and imports- methanol is from additives or unmonitored fermentation. You're really better off not drinking any alchol at all in any unregulated or bootleg area. There was a situation in Iran where the adulterated cheaper alcohol was put into Schmirnoff bottles - not the only case of this being possible. You could reuse beer etc bottles too, even by recapping.

[@davidb2206]

They do that a lot in China. There are some videos on it.

[@dannyphan1352]

One bad establishment ruined it for the whole region.

[@aryang4488]

And bad tourists ruined the whole region too 😂

[@Marc-uw4lw]

It’s happened a lot in the past across SE Asia but this case was particularly bad

[@AiJaiDeeSaMer]

​@@aryang4488that's more true for those tourists from Mainland China, 😅😅.

[@anthonyvidmar3916]

Methanol poisoning often occurs in poorer emerging tourist countries and they start distilling their own alcohol without the knowledge of how to do it correctly and safely. During distillation the first 8% of the yield will be methanol leaving the other 92% being ethanol which is drinkable alcohol. Methanol has a boiling point of around 68°C and so it is the first product to come out and must be discarded, ethanol boils at 76°C and will emerge as pure alcohol and safe for consumption once it is diluted with water to 40% ALC/VOL. often the mistake these people running these stills make is filling bottles directly from the still as it is being produced due to high demand for the product and if that first yield of methanol has not been removed you end up with one bottle of pure poison out of a ten bottle run. This alcohol is used in free cocktails or buckets and sometimes added as fillers to labeled brands of popular spirits. It’s a Russian Roulette of where that first bottle from the still ends up.

[@frankjames7272]

Laos is not 'emerging ' , people have been to backpacking laos since the 90s .

[@RyanElvidge-s7o]

​@@frankjames7272Still a 3rd world country...

[@frankjames7272]

@@RyanElvidge-s7o That is almost a racist comment . The issue here is not about third world or not it is moonshining . there are legal distillers in laos,a poor country, that are just as safe as anywhere in the world . and the second problem is ignorance.

[@RyanElvidge-s7o]

@@frankjames7272 1 you don't know the meaning of racism, 2 the fact you think a third world country is as safe as any where else shows your lack of intelligence

[@tonysamsenthaikhambaoxaych8507]

@@frankjames7272😅 compared to the crime rate in America and whats been going on in this country lately Heck yeah Laos is Safe in other aspects lol 😂😂😂 American born Laotian guy here bro 🫡🫡🫡

[@hoangkimviet8545]

Rest in peace.

[@abrahamlevi3556]

The problem with methanol poisoning is when you get the symptoms that lead to a diagnosis, it's sometimes too late to do something about it.

[@leslielim2360]

When you're travelling, remember, there is no such thing as "FREE". You're a tourist. You're just a number in the travel statistics. If you want to travel on a tight budget , at least, buy your own booze and remember, cheap booze are never good and good booze are never cheap. The people are nice to you as long as you have money.

[@peaceofmind7390]

I'm 40 years old...I'm fully enjoy my life without sip of alcohol n drug. If I can, you can too.

[@AiJaiDeeSaMer]

We are in the same boat then. I never drink nor do drugs either. Only drink water, 😅😅.

[@LuckyDuckie115]

i always stick to bottle/canned beers in developing countries

[@MonsieurBean666]

@@LuckyDuckie115 never done this, but now i recognise that i could easily have been a victim. All i drank in Laos for years was local Whiskey! Every Village and every town , every bar - local Whiskey . No More of that i believe.

[@victorrodgers471]

Can you help me with money if you have please

[@mirrorocean3852]

Laos is a third world country. One of the Least developed countries in the world

[@saltyjo7514]

Why would parents give money to their teenage kids to travel to Laos and get themselves drunk? This is negligent parenting

[@catherinepeloton4446]

Ignorant parents who don't even know Laos is a comunist country and with foreign money buy arms against western countries.STUPIDITY of tourists.

[@maxovedo473]

I was in Laos in 2008 , beautiful country but i felt that time most of locals didn't really like tourist and trust me : i m very respectful person but was not enough . I drink alcool very rarely . I spoke to another tourist and he mention the same thing. In the end of the day if you don't like don't invite people to your country but you like money and on the same time you don't want tourist . Doesn't work like that. I call this hypocrisy which is not only in Laos this situation but in many places in the world .

[@qualitytraders5333]

I live in Mexico in a tourist town. There's also a backpacker's culture and gangs of local men from the region come to town to prey on jong backpackers and you can often find them in the morning unconscious in the street. Imagine what happened to them. Of course, they don't file reports out of shame and sometimes fear that they'll end up on social media. I don't know why they come here because there's nothing special. I guess there's an international buzz going on obscure social media about something that's attractive for them.

[@RuthOmegon]

I had to laugh when they interviewed one girl and she said they were still drinking but being really careful? How?

[@kamolhengkiatisak1527]

By drinking from bottle/can of beer, easy.

[@jacklan4103]

I'm glad I quit alcohol.

[@learningvideosbynikhil8308]

Yeah it’s so overrated! I’m about to be 22 and have never really had a drink of alcohol lol(maybe just a sip one time to try)!

[@zangrat]

Proud of you. I'm glad I love a beer

[@MarkyTeriyaki0]

Dumbest thing we ever normalized

[@zangrat]

@@MarkyTeriyaki0 how is it ?

[@learningvideosbynikhil8308]

@@zangratIt’s a drug dawg….theres like other things we can drink like soft drinks or juices….or even those nonalcoholic drinks are a better alternative

[@joetran8798]

I really don't understand why you need alcohol to have a good time. While the spirits companies might not like it, and contrary to their advertising, you can have a good time without alcohol.

[@jack_waterman]

That's because people are really boring, most of the time. Sure, you could go off on your own, and have a good time sober, but when you have to drag the whole crew around, they weigh you down, slow you. And what does alcohol do? It slows you down. That's why men drink, anyway.

[@angiemail8459]

Don't blame people who likes to drink alcohol please. It will be alright if they were not tampered with poison like methanol.

[@joseenoel8093]

How very very many of us are put under pressure by narcissists to drink heavily, more normal getting whacked out of it than abstaining, part of English/jock/friends are at pubs mentalities, why weren't these people warned, is somebody giving you free shots out for your best interests?

[@CoryEarnest-x9v]

Alot of people have social anxiety and arent social w strangers and alcohol helps w that

[@virginia3222]

It’s certainly possible to have fun without alcohol, but a fair amount of social life revolves around it. I no longer drink, and I feel left out to some extent. But I still think life is better overall without alcohol.

[@JimmieCooper-le6vj]

Has anybody been arrested yet ???

[@beelee9840]

Maybe not.

[@Blue-Dog]

That's what I'd like to know too Jimmie.

[@ataatp-lx1sb]

Le gouvernement rassemble des informations pour faire le bien

[@Bas-Lerdphichit_choudchum]

It happened in Laos, not Thailand. The Lao government is a Communist regime. Please don't expect arrest. If this happens in Thailand, which was once born but not for tourists, it has been arrested. There are no general-selling regulations in Thailand. It is only for the family or small communities. There are very few of them now because of the high penalty.

[@Outoftimet.t]

It's a communist country, they hate the westerners

[@CaraMarie13]

The fact that people are still going out and drinking is wild. Its not about whether they are lovely people or not, its about safety.

[@jessentacampcambe3363]

IN THE FIRST PLACE WHY WOULD YOU TRAVEL TO A POOR COUNTRY?

[@ellisrochlin2267]

why wouldnt you , the likes of usa england germany japan and Oz make up about 6 % of where you can travel too

[@JayandSarah]

Because they are far superior travel experiences than going to wealthy countries.

[@sengcaptainchannel794]

So sad R.I.P all 6 peoples

[@miekesmit7012]

We never had a booze culture when traveling. Beer only where you take the tips off! Same with other drinks. No ice, new bottle only

[@multioptioned]

The two Australian families have a go fund me page with a target of $500k. $300,000 already raised....😮

[@untouchable360x]

Law 40 of 48. Anything offered for free is dangerous.

[@domingos_m]

People will soon forget

[@brendtdevera9197]

Just don't go to such places, beware of the Serpent...

[@tl1533]

Young people need to be careful when drinking alcohol. It happened in Mexico, Laos, Thailand, & other countries.

[@travelingman1125]

Thailand is far safer than Laos and Mexico

[@bugsy1254]

It happens in Western countries too you know.

[@praeryjt14]

Vietnam Philippines Cambodia Myanmar China Russia

[@pkaniram]

@@travelingman1125 Have you seen news that people die from methanol in Thailand too earlier this year.

[@travelingman1125]

@@pkaniram still it is a very rare case. Just search up google about methanol case in Asia. You will see lists of countries. Thailand isn’t one of them

[@VesPitts-c3p]

Why is it these reports never talk to the people who live there. They seem to have less value then the people back packing through.

[@valorzinski7423]

European colonial mentality never changes

[@wildeturkey2006]

Weird thing is that this has been a problem for decades. If you go to Smart Traveller its always said not to have cocktails or be VERY cautious to have free drinks and shots etc because of poisining and or drugs. I remember in 2004 when i was going to Thailand this was one of the warnings and its not changed. Methonal Poisioning happens every year in these asian countries. These tourists have access to all this information online and choose not to follow it. These aren't highly regulated countries that these tourists come from, its the wild west and you need to be extremely cautious.

[@ColoniaMurder20]

becuz they drink backyard made coconut wine.. they should buy branded coconut wine.

[@mk_annan22]

Solution is simple. Don't drink alcohol 🚫.

[@JavenarchX]

Or maybe not poison your customers...

[@JayandSarah]

Not everyone is trying to be a sober puritan. Some of us like to have a few sessions with our friends. That is the good life.

[@BlueRaven-q2x]

Given free drinks and just assumed they were safe?! SMH

[@frankjames7272]

@@BlueRaven-q2x its a tourist destination part of the business peoples gimmick

[@maestrovso]

The locals are the nicest people as long as your tourrist dollars keep coming in.

[@KMTDivision]

So you prefer spending your dollars where you would get a lousy service instead? What's your point exactly? A business is a business; they give you services and you give them money. They are not running a charity!

[@MonsieurBean666]

@@maestrovso but when are you in Laos as anything but a Tourist ? Plus , the Laos in General , are as nice a people as anyone could ever know.

[@abimoastra]

Of course. You think is because tourist are nice, grateful and respectful people ?

[@MonsieurBean666]

@abimoastra No, he thinks that he is the White god .

[@user-pi5lx8dm6k]

The hostels are mostly owned by Vietnamese ex-pats

[@valorzinski7423]

Protip: don't ever drink at bars and clubs, only buy canned alcoholic drinks at supermarkets or well known chain stores

[@imranbecks]

This is what happens when one is too adventurous in their travels abroad. Be adventurous by all means, but do so responsibly and safely. Don't drink from a local source you are not familiar with.

[@taytrong]

At 51 years old, I've only been drunk 2 times in my life. The idea of free alcohol, from the get-go, is suspect.

[@stevenbissett]

I'm 52 and have never been drunk.

[@learningvideosbynikhil8308]

@@stevenbissettI’m about to be 22 and never been drunk haha!

[@stevenbissett]

@@learningvideosbynikhil8308 keep it that way.

[@Bushchannel]

Don’t drink alcohol and especially don’t drink it in dodgy places.

[@djrxmx]

Where are the criminal charges? What is the Laos government doing about these homicides?

[@rawheavy1372]

There are no charges because these were not homicides, more like accidental deaths from distillation of alcohol. There are even deaths in American moonshine circles because of methanol poisoning from incorrect distillation.

[@xtyentertain4057]

Laos government won't do anything about what happened to the tourist. The only thing is not to travel in Laos at all. Not a safe place to travel. They Lao people had poison people for many decades.

[@tech10222]

Vang Vieng is utterly corrupt there will be no criminal charges and if there are it won't be against the people responsible it will be some poor worker who had nothing to do with it.

[@aryang4488]

Wait long long.

[@nongthip]

When hundreds of 1st-timer young travellers converge in a place like Vang Vieng with cheap booze available on every corner bar and along the river on a hot day with a river full of half-naked similar-age newbies it's pretty easy to just throw caution to the wind and suck down whatever cheap booze is put in front of them. Hey it seems like paradise with no parents or responsible cops or any kind of hindrance to just go for it and pretend you are invincible. I've lived in Thailand 20 years and been to Laos many times including Vang Vieng and the "tubing" scene, and participated in some of the hedonism as well, but usually just a few Beerlao which I either opened myself or watched a bar guy open in front of me. Even 20 years ago I watched hundreds of 18-20-something backpackers just suck it down like there was no tomorrow, and usually in a bucket or glass which came from an unknown source. Many people were severely injured and even died on the tubing circuit by smashing on rocks or passing out in the river with all its swings, ziplines, and the infmous "Death Slide". Most of that apparatus was torn down along with the river bars in 2013, but it's still a money-spinner for locals and substituting dodgy moonshine or other chemicals in drinks for them to cut costs is still a big risk. If you want to drink alcohol make sure it's from a factory-sealed bottle. Now that these latest deaths have gone global on the news let's hope the added visibility will finally pressure the "government" to put a stop to it and set examples for those who knowingly poison innocent victims.

[@davechow704]

Please remember that the rude Chinese tourists you mentioned here are the PRC Chinese.

[@benw.6194]

I was there last year and thanks sensitive tongue, I did not drink alcohol. In the capital, I stayed at Crown Plaza.

[@SA-de4lc]

"NO" to free drinks !

[@homgurung8885]

So sad😪

[@mikeyang6003]

Don't drink any booze except beer which is cheap and SAFE.

[@andrewburgemeister6684]

Yep, bottled beer or even canned beer if you can. It’s cheap to produce and not taxed heavily so there’s no incentive to bootleg it.

[@bananaempijama]

Who in their right mind would drink anything without being on a closed bottle or can that YOU open, in a 3rd world country?

[@MonsieurBean666]

@@bananaempijama Kids you 🤡

[@jbizzle4922]

ironically the cure for methanol poisoning is ethanol. So if they were given genuine shots after, they may have been okay.

[@ellisrochlin2267]

Do you think the peeps that supplied the methanol gave a toss

[@JojoJoget]

That’s why you don’t drink moonshine

[@anthonyvidmar3916]

Absolute true fact. I was about to post the same comment

[@frankjames7272]

​@@JojoJoget some moonshiners know what they are doing . it is probably best to just buy branded.

[@MonsieurBean666]

@@jbizzle4922 complex medical emergency, not something resolved by "taking genuine shots".

[@muhammadhanif4113]

Just don't drink alcohol. It's better.

[@diodoruscronus]

You believe this bc of your religion. There's nothing better than an Italian nebbiolo wine. You should try it.

[@JohnSaunders-k1e]

​@@diodoruscronusSo because he's called Muhammad you assume he can only avoid alcohol because of being in a religious group? That's racist.

[@frankjames7272]

Or just buy branded alcohol .

[@mickjameson519]

@@JohnSaunders-k1e cry more

[@alexlazar4738]

Alcohol has saved more lives than it has destroyed. Without it the existence would be unbearable for great many people.

[@rgrgrgr13rg]

I did 10 days in Laos last year and I honestly hated it. Even the mountain hikes in Vang Vieng are not safe.

[@angiemail8459]

Personally, I won't go to Laos, even if you pay me.

[@pmull252]

You sound like a bundle of fun 😴

[@stevenbissett]

He's calling it like he sees it. I believe him.​@@pmull252

[@Alsoleburgervan]

I thought you were on an adventure?

[@jazzjazzy1538]

But Luang Prabang is really not bad.

[@ellisrochlin2267]

Jesus , I spent time in lao in the early 90s as well as many other Asian countries from 88 onwards . What a price to pay with their young lives 😢, ignorance,,greed and 0 conscience has been the evil hand in these such unfortunate unnecessary deaths . The parents siblings and loved ones must be in a terrible state

[@Marigold-m2]

@ellisrochlin2267 "ignorance, greed and 0 conscience" on the part of self-centred youth, who are looking to party & live it up. Not visit or learn about a culture of another country. Brats of the western & wealthy world should stay home & learn to work & gain some wisdom before venturing out into the world. I am having trouble finding empathy for these arrogant rich kids who brought on their own demise. Clearly, few have learnt from their deadly experience because they are still out there. I'd wager that most will be drinking shots & buckets within a week or two max.

[@peejayem4700]

People in these countries are quite often poor. A backyard distiller can easily create methanol unintentionally. Perhaps that’s stupidity but it doesn’t necessarily equate to evil.

[@ellisrochlin2267]

@Marigold-m2 Why are you so utterly damming ? What's your problem? It isn't there own fault . JUST young wanna be inexperienced backpackers who hadn't quite realised there privileged upbringings until they probably arrived in the far east or a 5 th world country like Laos. Many or mostly all go there for a extended budget holiday , they are in a foreign land , in that week to a month they will at best pick up a few local words , chat with the indeginous who provide food and shelter ect ect and travel to a few holy or famous sites (maybe employ a so called indigenous guide) and maybe even get a thing for Buddhism , meeting other like-minded budget backpackers, the fuckin same as I did 35 yrs plus ago when the the backpackers path around Asia was a little harder to travel than now. If your not Muslim from a predominately Muslim country, then your own country of origin contains centuries , generations of traditions or culture which includes alcoholic Beverages . If out of there nuts or semi nuts in a faraway from birth home is what they wish to do , that's up to them but some greedy rsole has poisoned and killed , people having a drink. Let these killers be found and thrown in a vat of strong acid. The awful heartbreaking pain for those families who are crying and grieving over their unfortunate dead .

[@JohnSkyLey]

People still drink alcohol ??

[@SiliconMolybdenumNitrogen]

You drink your own urine I’ve heard 😂🖕🏻

[@Joedirt3349]

Aliens? You an alien mate?

[@learningvideosbynikhil8308]

It’s so outdated bro! Alcohol is so outdated….just like smoking is!

[@zangrat]

​@@learningvideosbynikhil8308 how is it outdated?

[@Joedirt3349]

@@learningvideosbynikhil8308 synthahol!

[@wllo8891]

Rip😢

[@fiction5967]

They hate us, Im sorry but the smiles are fake.

[@M.R.T.V.Videos]

🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑

[@catherinepeloton4446]

A comunist country like Laos hate all western tourists but 99% western tourists are STUPID AND IGNORANT.

[@ademarbenitezaranjo8299]

there is no such thing as a free trip.

[@lindafarnes486]

It isn't the first time this has happened, but it doesn't seem to happen often. You definitely need to be careful about what you drink.

[@chadkim8724]

Seems more like a slum than vacation destination

[@JLummin]

I'd still go but not drink. Maybe just soda and water. Don't need alcohol to have a good time.

[@nanoly]

I think the methanol is from local white wine that the locals make, without standards or certification. These alcohols are then mixed when making cocktails and other branded alcohol products. It is recommended to drink from a can or bottle that you open by your own.

[@officience1]

These fake alcohol can still be bottled and sold at cheap. There has been many similar death due to drinking methanol wine in Vietnam. I'm sure the wine they drank was made in Vietnam because the Hostel owner is Vietnamese. These methanol wines are dirt cheap probably 5 cents a bottle. Best to drink beer for your safety. You drink methanol alcohol you'll puke blood.

[@obsidianjane4413]

Methanol is toxic no matter what you mix it with. It was probably just someone who didn't know/care what they were doing trying to save money by homebrewing. Just because a bottle looks like its new/or from a reputable brand doesn't mean anything.

[@anthonyvidmar3916]

Wine fermentation producers very small traces of methanol that aren’t harmful.distilled spirits produce byproduct of methanol at about 10% of yield.

[@chaithanyarr1225]

Maybe you have beautiful bartenders, but drinking and use of drugs are injurious to health.Your precious life is yours. Live safe and wise

[@MrMannyhw]

How about just don’t go?

[@pmull252]

How about you just stay at home and bore off

[@zangrat]

Yeaaa exactly just stay in the country you were born in your whole life..... Why go anywhere else, why would you want to see the world & different cultures......

[@pmull252]

@zangrat Sadly, so many narrow-minded sad gits are like this. Afraid of leaving their comfort zones.

[@cxa011500]

So sad. 😔

[@chriswizo9891]

In poorer countries like Mexico, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia etc. only drink sealed alcohol.

[@leej-wp9ft]

My idea of hell. Spotty backpackers, desperate locals and sickening heat. No thanks.

[@mashenka6189]

This is tragic. My teenage daughter played footy against her team last year…they new the girls, Bianca and holly…just such a waste of young lives…they had such good futures..my heart goes out to the parents…horrific 💔

[@catherinepeloton4446]

Why did they choose a comunist country?lgnorant people,those comunist countries are making money thanks those stupid tourists.With the money,arms against their own countries. STUPIDITY of tourists.

[@NoWindNoSunNoPower]

Accepting free drinks in a poor, third world country is not a good idea.

[@Debarghaya_Mukherjee]

Ask for free ghapa ghap

[@user-ec5rq2lw4k]

How do you explain drugged drinks in bars from "1st world countries"?

[@freespiritable]

As someone from a poor country, we have it in our culture to help who needs help. We treat tourists quite often. I see where your concern comes from but i think it's unfair to label people just because they're poor. Most of nightmares of the sort are seen in rich countries, not poor.

[@alandemaio3043]

Even in England or France you’d better not to do that

[@jinxterpinxter]

Accepting free drinks in a 1st world country is never a good idea either. Get off your high horse.

[@stupot1952]

THE MANAGER OF THE HOTEL HAS BEEN ARRESTED THIS PLACE SHOULD BE A NO GO AREA AND BAN TOURIST FROM GOING IF YOU DO GO PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT HAVE FREE DRINKS OR COCKTAILS

[@DeniseP-uq6tk]

Anyone can act like they're lovely but you don't know them really so stop being naive !!

[@tEch-01]

there's a serial poisoner there

[@stevenewsome427]

Bootleg booze Home distilled. methanol is produced when spirits are made, iy has a slightly lower boiling point that ethanol and boils off the wash first thats why distillers always remove the first ten percent of the distilate this contains the methanol the spirit should them be filtered with activated charcoal to remove any remaining residue

[@DanielMena-s4t]

Beautiful river but is it clean and safe. It looks polluted and who know what's on the bottom of the river

[@PatrickDowdle]

Young backpackers dont care . They only want cheap booze . If you are offered cheap booze , immediately say no thanks

[@JeffTedNugent]

Locals brew moonshine that can be dangerous to consume. Youngsters unfortunately think they're up to trying anything.

[@aryang4488]

Rough,uncivilised tourists

[@tightlines106]

To late the shut the gate once the horse has bolted

[@sentient1640]

Drinking is injurious to health.

[@mwd331]

Being poisoned with methanol certainly is.

[@ColoniaMurder20]

@@mwd331 the one who made coconut wine probably have no knowledge to how to remove methanol contain on coconut wine.. methanol was produce during distilled process of coconut water. here in Philippines is highly regulated to all coconut wine maker to make sure methanol contain should removed alr during process.. before sell in market.

[@bswill5077]

@@ColoniaMurder20 no philippines have a poor regulation on alcohol as well. The lambanog remember?

[@ColoniaMurder20]

@@bswill5077 branded coconut wine is safe.. unless you buy coconut wine some random maker who made his coconut wine in his backyard.

[@frankjames7272]

☠️

[@Neckoya]

Id avoid laos altogether

[@plumeria66]

Ugly architecture, hot, humid, mosquito ridden, and unsafe drinks. No thanks.

[@abmong]

The real tragedy is there have been many more cases in the past and will probably continue to be, but they don't make international headlines because the victims are local Laos people and the Laos govt often cover it up and suppress any negative news. There's even Laos communist diehards trying to blame this incident on Thailand.

[@potsy9973]

It reminded me of the "spraying for bed bugs incidents" in Asia, with chemicals they wouldn't dare use in other continents.

[@fatsun8]

Should avoid going there all together

[@MonsieurBean666]

@@fatsun8 loser comment.

[@sycp.6556]

Say NO to any free drink. Only branded and hygienic proof of sealed drinks pls.

[@Hey_puppets]

Why not avoid loas too.....

[@nealeking5662]

I agree it is not safe

[@AAWGASHTADS]

Laos is great as the reporter described . Just don't drink crap made in the back .

[@MrMannyhw]

@@AAWGASHTADSna. It has more to do with the country’s poverty. So of course the people the start to think if I serve this, I can make more money. They do not care about lives of people. In west, life is precious. In the 3rd world, life is not. Let’s think about it for a minute

[@user-ec5rq2lw4k]

@@MrMannyhw Conscious and cautious local people in the third world, as you say, buy their own alcohol in bottles. How many worlds is the earth? You seem to be very proud to segregate other people from the other side just because they don't have the same level of modernity as your own country. These people travel to Asian countries for natural attractions, if you can't be cautious enough about what you drink and are focused on drinking then why don't you just stay where you are and have your own drinks there? How come people from 1st world don't have common sense? America and the UK are 1st world but look at the level of violence, poverty, crimes, and drug addiction you have there. The hypocrisy!

[@JojoJoget]

@@MrMannyhw you might get poisoned if you drink moonshine anywhere. Get off your high horse.

[@xandr13]

Why TF would you go to Laos to get drunk in the first place?

[@babyboomerang8595]

That's kinda why people go to Vang Vieng - oh, and to get stoned off their heads and watch reruns of 'Friends' in rooms full of mattresses.

[@frankjames7272]

@@babyboomerang8595 really ? 😂

[@babyboomerang8595]

@@frankjames7272 Yes, or, at least, that's what it was like in 2014(?) when I was there - about 15 or 20 places. I guess that they can't all still be playing "Friends". I think it was a 24 hour thing too. Actually, thinking about it, it's one of the strangest things I've ever seen. Try putting "Friends reruns Vang Vieng" into Google Images or try Googling "The typical Vang Vieng TV bars all playing "Friends" reruns!" for a good article on the phenomenon. I just did this - I'm glad I didn't imagine it!

[@MonsieurBean666]

@@babyboomerang8595 thats over a decade ago dude!

[@MonsieurBean666]

@@xandr13 hmm , Just watch the above Video again - IT covers most of the reasons Young people are drawn to Vang V.

[@donutboy9576]

What’s the motive from the stranger giving poison drinks?

[@CindyWatson-gq3ed]

stop going to these thirld world countries for holiday.

[@Marigold-m2]

@CindyWatson-gq3ed Stop going to any country to drink & be out of your mind most of the time. These kids were idiots & not victims. Sorry. They just are.

[@fansizhe9997]

R.I.P for all the victims!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏💐💐💐💐🕯️🕯️🕯️

[@SimonSmith-yd6tt]

Austria used to "spike" their wine with diethylene glycol (anti-freeze) to make it taste sweeter so not a developing world thing

[@sutats]

Alcohol shouldn't be ingested.

[@senianns9522]

I'm surprised this hasn't happened in Pai, Thailand. Similarly full of young crazy people enjoying themselves. So sad for the Laos victims!

[@rgriffinRETIRED_SHEEPDOG]

In hindsight does it not seem pretty stupid to travel to Laos for hiking?

[@MonsieurBean666]

@@rgriffinRETIRED_SHEEPDOG 🤡

[@TommyGusack]

Who knows it could be their spouse or friends. Countries like that are getaway for violence. Danger is everywhere

[@smeeangle]

If you are traveling to South Asia, consider visiting a country like Sri Lanka, where liquor is highly regulated yet reasonably priced.

[@tommydong8070]

There is a serial killer in Laos.

[@MS-ty8eq]

What could go wrong in a third world country?

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

What about the drugs and underage hookers

[@khonesavanhsoudaloth]

This must be aware of being checked if they are met a standard of quality unless otherwise be announced absolutely to close.

[@ClownSlayer9995]

no smoking and drinking

[@retire14pattaya9]

Just don't drink.

[@nancydrew1882]

You go to these obscure countries on vacation, you have to be looking for trouble!

[@smashhimmungo5798]

I dont think them Bars will be doing a Roaring trade for a while !

[@samlagos2192]

Just stick to beerlao

[@gasco4329]

literally trying to cancel my flight from Thailand to Laos and i am having trouble trying to get into contact with Thai Airways lmao. Still got 8 weeks until my south east asia trip.

[@M.R.T.V.Videos]

safer to travel home country . Can do same nothing of getting drunk and shaggy random travel 304's

[@Abdominal65]

I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would go to these countries in the first place.

[@reubensalt3149]

That’s gotta be one of the most ignorant things I’ve read on KZbin

[@ianlowden6168]

​@@reubensalt3149Too true, idiotic in fact.

[@M.R.T.V.Videos]

Only because cheap party holiday to slag around when no one fromm home is looking 😂

[@retire_recharge_roam]

Stay safe