The United Kingdom has added Kenya to its list of countries where British travellers are advised to exercise caution when consuming alcoholic beverages, citing the risk of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or tainted drinks.
According to a statement from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Kenya is among eight new countries where incidents of methanol poisoning involving travellers have been recorded.
Eight Countries Added to the Advisory
In addition to Kenya, the newly listed countries include Nigeria, Uganda, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Russia.
The updated guidance expands on existing travel warnings for destinations such as Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, where British tourists have previously fallen victim to contaminated alcohol.
Understanding the Methanol Threat
Methanol is an industrial alcohol commonly found in products like antifreeze and paint thinners. It is sometimes illegally mixed with spirit-based drinks as a way to cut production costs.
Unlike ethanol—the type of alcohol that is safely consumed in beverages—methanol is synthetically produced and highly poisonous. It is tasteless and odourless, making it nearly impossible to detect in contaminated drinks.
According to Doctors Without Borders, even small quantities—as little as 30ml—can cause blindness or death within 12 to 48 hours of consumption.
Early symptoms of methanol poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and confusion, while severe effects such as blurred vision, blindness, and difficulty breathing can develop within two days.
UK Officials Urge Caution
Hamish Falconer, the UK’s Minister for Consular and Crisis, urged British travellers visiting Kenya and other affected destinations to exercise caution, buy only sealed drinks from licensed outlets, and avoid homemade or pre-mixed cocktails.
Travellers should remain vigilant, purchase alcohol only from reputable establishments, and avoid any unlabelled or suspicious drinks
Hamish FalconerKenya Bureau of Standards Responds
In response to the UK’s advisory, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) assured the public that all methanol in the country is denatured by adding denatonium benzoate, a chemical that makes it too bitter to be mistaken for alcohol.
All methanol in the country is denatured by adding the bitterest chemical called denatonium benzoate. This means that methanol found in Kenya can never be mistaken for alcohol, as this component makes its taste extremely bitter for human ingestion
KEBSIllicit Alcohol Still a Major Concern
Despite the reassurance from KEBS, a study released in May 2024 revealed that illicit alcohol accounted for 60% of all alcohol sales in Kenya.
The report, published by London-based market research firm Euromonitor, linked the surge in consumption of illicit drinks to high taxes on legal alcohol, affordability, easy access, and weak enforcement at the county level.
