Home / Health / Urgent Methanol Poisoning Warning Issued Amid Spike in Alcohol-Related Illnesses
Urgent Methanol Poisoning Warning Issued Amid Spike in Alcohol-Related Illnesses
16 Nov
Summary
- Methanol poisoning can make hangovers much worse and rapidly cause serious illness or death
- Symptoms to watch for include vision problems, abdominal pain, and breathing issues
- Seek urgent medical help if methanol poisoning is suspected
As of November 16th, 2025, a new urgent warning has been issued regarding the risks of methanol poisoning from drinking alcohol. Methanol is a highly toxic industrial alcohol that can be illegally mixed into alcoholic drinks, leading to severe health consequences.
The warning comes as authorities have seen a spike in alcohol-related illnesses and poisonings. Methanol poisoning can make a regular hangover feel much worse than it should be, with distinctive symptoms like vision problems, abdominal pain, and breathing difficulties.
Experts caution that it only takes a small amount of methanol to rapidly cause serious illness or even death. They are urging the public to "know the signs" and seek immediate medical help if methanol poisoning is suspected. Timely treatment with antidotes and dialysis can be critical to saving lives.
To reduce the risks, the public is advised to avoid homemade or unlabeled alcoholic drinks, and to stick to licensed, reputable establishments when consuming alcohol. Methanol poisoning outbreaks are more common in developing regions, but can impact tourists and locals alike wherever fake or illegally produced alcohol is available.
