Bali Traveller Shares Life-Saving Bottle Trick Amid Rising Tourist Threat of Methanol Poisoning
A frequent visitor to Bali has revealed a little-known but crucial safety tip to help protect tourists from a growing threat involving tainted alcohol. Colin Ahearn, an experienced traveller and safety advocate, has long campaigned against the dangers of methanol poisoning linked to refilled spirits bottles sold in bars across the popular Indonesian holiday destination.
Methanol—an inexpensive, tasteless, and odourless chemical sometimes used to refill empty alcohol bottles—poses a serious health risk to unsuspecting tourists. Ahearn warns that consuming spirits from open bottles can be highly dangerous, as some establishments refill them with methanol or low-quality local spirits disguised as imported brands.
To combat this, Ahearn advises travellers who purchase duty-free spirits at the airport and consume them during their stay to take extra precautions once the bottles are empty. He recommends destroying the bottles’ labels and lids to make them difficult to reuse or resell. “Trash the label, wreck the lid and make it harder for people to sell your bottle,” he explained, sharing photos of scratched-off labels as an example.
The safety measure surprised many but was widely praised by those who recognized the potential to save lives. Ahearn cautioned against smashing bottles to avoid injury and stressed that simply damaging the label and removing the lid can deter unscrupulous sellers.
The threat of methanol poisoning is not limited to Bali but extends throughout Southeast Asia, where incidents have tragically led to fatalities. Last year, two young Australian women died after consuming tainted spirits in a hostel bar in Laos’ Vang Vieng party town. Reports of similar poisoning cases continue to emerge, underscoring the need for heightened awareness.
Ahearn suggests that the safest approach for tourists wanting to avoid risk altogether is to stick to beer, wine, or premixed drinks purchased from reputable mini marts or supermarkets, rather than ordering spirits from bars. He emphasized that while some refilled bottles might only contain local spirits like arrack—which differ in taste and quality from imported liquor—the possibility of deadly methanol contamination cannot be ignored.
By sharing this simple yet effective bottle destruction technique and ongoing warnings, Colin Ahearn hopes to reduce the incidence of methanol poisoning and keep holidaymakers safe during their Bali trips. Travelers are urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions with any spirits they consume while abroad.
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