The UK government’s Travel Aware campaign is warning travellers about two potentially life-threatening risks connected with alcohol abroad: drink spiking and methanol poisoning. Both can cause serious illness or death, and the campaign encourages people to learn the warning signs, check official travel advice for their destination and take practical precautions before and during their trip.

Drink spiking involves someone secretly adding drugs or other harmful substances to a person’s drink. Possible signs include feeling much more intoxicated than expected, unusual drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia or memory loss. The campaign advises travellers to keep drinks in sight, avoid accepting drinks from strangers, plan how they will get home and stay together with friends. Anyone who suspects that they or a friend have been spiked should move to safety, seek medical help where necessary and report the incident to the local police.

Methanol poisoning is a different danger, caused when toxic industrial alcohol is illegally added to alcoholic drinks. Early symptoms can resemble ordinary intoxication or a severe hangover, including vomiting, poor balance and drowsiness. More serious symptoms may appear 12 to 48 hours later and can include abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, blurred vision, convulsions, coma or blindness. Vision problems, including tunnel vision or a snowy, static-like effect, are highlighted as particularly important warning signs requiring urgent medical attention.

Travellers cannot completely eliminate the risk, but the campaign recommends avoiding free or suspiciously cheap shots and cocktails, unlabelled bottles, homemade alcohol and drinks sold outside licensed premises. The central message is simple: do not wait for symptoms to improve or try to sleep them off. Prompt medical treatment can save a life and prevent permanent complications.

Find more from Travel Aware (UK, July 2026)