A booze boffin has warned that everyone who enjoys a tipple must be aware of the telltale signs the drink is fake — following a series of young travellers dying after drinking counterfeit alcohol.
Red flags include a ‘paint thinner’ type smell, fizzy spirits and oily, syrupy textures, according to whisky specialist Daniel Ufland.
The alarming deaths have been reported in popular holiday hotspots such as Greece, Turkey, and locations in South East Asia in recent years.
The victims drunk what they believed to be vodka or gin shots, but were in fact consuming potentially deadly methanol.
Methanol is a colourless liquid that smell similar to booze but is far cheaper to produce.
However, drinking just a few sips of the fake alcohol can have catastrophic effects.
When broken down by the body, methanol produces toxic chemicals that kill cells, leading to organ damage and in some cases, death.
As little as one shot of a methanol-laced spirit can be enough to kill.
Just like ethanol that is consumed in spirits, wine and beer, methanol is is a colourless liquid that smell similar to booze but it is far cheaper to produce
Brits have now been warned about the hazards of methanol poisoning in South East Asia but incidents are known in holiday destinations far closer to home
Symptoms of poisoning begin around 12 hours after drinking and resemble consuming too much alcohol — including nausea and vomiting.
Even if treatment is delivered quickly, sensitive tissues like the eyes can become irreversibly damaged, leading to permanent blindness or vision loss.
Mr Ufland, founder of premier whisky retailer The Whisky Masters, said there are ways of identifying the illegal and lethal drinks before they ruin your night, The Mirror reported.
Before the drink has even been poured, the packaging on a replica bottle of booze may give it away.
Mr Ufland explained that fake packs sold as a genuine brands may have poor-quality labels, spelling errors or blurry text.
Bottles where the seal appears to have been broken or tampered with are also warning signs.
If a drink smells suspicious it’s probably best you don’t take a sip, Mr Ufland stresses.
It may emit a chemical smell similar to nail polish or paint thinner, he added.
Ms Jones and her best friend Holly Bowles (pictured left) are two of 14 tourists who are believed to be victims of a mass methanol poisoning in the party town of Vang Vieng, Laos. Bianca Jones, 19, (pictured right) also died after consuming alleged ‘methanol-laced’ drinks.
Fizzing liquid should also be treated cautiously as it could be a sign the drink has been tampered with — most alcoholic drinks should not be fizzing at all.
Mr Ufland warned it could be a sign the drink contains unsafe additives or improper production methods have been used to make it.
Floating bits, an odd colour, or separate layers are all warning signs — as are syrupy and oily textures.
If a drink is priced extremely low, it’s probably too good to be true, he said.
That’s because taxes on legitimate alcohol are climbing globally meaning real booze has become more expensive, wherever you are in the world.
Mr Ufland also shed light on an intriguing test that can help you tell instantly if a drink contains methanol.
This involves pouring the suspected drink on to a spoon and setting it alight using a match or lighter.
The colour of the flame will reveal if the alcohol is genuine or not.
Ethanol, in alcohol, burns with a clean, almost invisible blue flame, while fake alcohol, often containing high levels of butanol and propanol, will burn with a brighter orange flame.
However, this should only be done with extreme caution and can be unreliable, he warned.
‘Always watch your drink being poured, avoid unsealed bottles, and never accept free shots from strangers.
‘Stick to reputable sources when buying alcohol and always remain vigilant.’
