The British government has expanded its travel warnings to include eight additional countries because of growing reports of methanol poisoning linked to counterfeit or contaminated alcohol, according to FOX.

The U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said travelers to Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda should be aware of the risk of serious illness or death from tainted alcoholic drinks.

An Oct. 21 advisory from the FCDO said the warnings follow “an increase in cases of serious illness and death caused by alcoholic drinks tainted with methanol in popular overseas travel destinations.”

“The expanded list builds on existing guidance for countries including Thailand, Laos and Vietnam,” the agency said.

In 2024, FOX reported that a U.S. tourist died in Laos after a suspected case of alcohol poisoning.

Earlier this year, Turkey issued a warning to the public to avoid illegal alcohol following the deaths of 103 people in Ankara and Istanbul, according to the New York Post. Seventy deaths occurred since Jan. 14, while Ankara reported 33 deaths since Jan. 1, officials said.

Authorities reported that the fatalities are linked to counterfeit alcoholic beverages being sold as popular brand-name products.

In addition to the fatalities, approximately 230 people across the two cities were hospitalized after consuming the tainted alcohol, with 40 patients listed in critical condition.

In another FOX report, a woman lost her sight after consuming a contaminated cocktail, indicating that a single drink could prove deadly.

Methanol — an industrial solvent found in antifreeze and windshield washer fluid — is lethal to humans even in small amounts, health authorities warn.

Methanol is sometimes mixed into alcoholic beverages to reduce overhead costs. Because it has no color, smell or flavor, poisoning can go unnoticed until symptoms emerge.

Hamish Falconer, the British minister for consular and crisis matters, said “by the time travelers realize the danger, it can be too late.

“That’s why we’re working hard to raise awareness of the warning signs and urging anyone who suspects methanol poisoning to seek immediate medical attention.

“I encourage all travelers to check our travel advice and Travel Aware pages before they go on holiday,” he said.

According to the Alliance Against Counterfeit Spirts, Methanol, also called wood alcohol, is a poisonous type of alcohol. Just a small amount can be deadly. It’s often found in antifreeze, solvents and some fake alcoholic drinks because it’s cheap and easy to get.

Counterfeiters sometimes try to remove impurities, but methanol is hard to get rid of. It is colorless and smells like normal alcohol, so you can’t tell it’s dangerous.

When ingested, methanol is turned in the body into chemicals that can damage the eyes, liver, kidneys, and brain, causing blindness, coma or death.