Methanol Poisoning in Bali: What Every Traveller Needs to Know

We live in Bali, and we love it. We also see the side of it that doesn't make the travel brochures. Methanol poisoning is one of the scariest, because it can happen to anyone who has a drink, not just heavy drinkers, and the first signs are easy to miss.

This isn't a lecture about drinking. It's the information we'd want our own friends and family to have before they get on the plane.

What is methanol?

Methanol is a type of alcohol used in things like fuel, antifreeze and industrial solvents. It is highly toxic to people. Even small amounts can cause blindness, organ damage and death.

The alcohol in normal drinks is ethanol. Methanol can end up in drinks when spirits are made illegally or cheaply, or when drinks are deliberately watered down or "stretched" with it to cut costs.

The warning for Bali

Australia's official travel advice service, Smartraveller, warns that people in Indonesia, including Bali and Lombok, have been poisoned by alcoholic drinks contaminated with harmful substances, including methanol. It specifically mentions arak, a local spirit, and notes that Australians and other foreigners have died or become seriously ill.

This isn't only a Bali problem. In late 2024, several young tourists, including two Australians, died after drinking methanol-contaminated alcohol in Laos. Cases have been reported across Southeast Asia.

Why it's so dangerous: the delay

Here's the part most people don't know. Methanol poisoning symptoms are often delayed, sometimes by 12 hours or more. At first, someone might just seem drunk. They go to bed, and by the time the serious symptoms appear, the poison has already started doing damage.

That's why knowing the signs, and acting fast, can save a life.

The warning signs

Early on, it can look like being drunk:

• feeling much drunker than expected for the amount drunk
• dizziness, drowsiness
• headache
• nausea and vomiting

Then, often hours later:

• vision problems: blurred vision, sensitivity to light, seeing "snow" or spots, or loss of vision
• severe stomach pain
• confusion
• difficulty breathing
• seizures
• loss of consciousness

Vision changes after drinking are a red flag. If someone's eyesight goes strange after a night out, treat it as an emergency.

What to do if you think someone has methanol poisoning

1. Get medical help immediately. Don't wait to see if it passes. In Indonesia, call 112, or go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department.
2. Tell the doctors you suspect methanol. Treatment is time-critical, and they need to know what to look for.
3. Don't let them sleep it off. Stay with them.
4. Contact your travel insurer and the Australian Embassy if you need help.
5. Report it. Smartraveller advises reporting suspected cases to the Indonesian police, which can help protect others.

How to protect yourself and your friends

You don't need to stop having fun. A few habits make a big difference:

• Be careful with spirits and cocktails, especially cheap ones, "buckets" and anything from unlicensed places.
• Avoid arak unless you're absolutely sure where it came from.
• Drink from sealed bottles and cans where you can, opened in front of you.
• Be wary of drinks that seem much cheaper than they should be. Methanol is used to cut costs.
• Look out for each other. Agree that if anyone feels odd, especially with their vision, you'll get help, no arguments.
• Know where the nearest hospital is before you go out.
• Have travel insurance, and keep the details handy.

Choosing not to drink

For some people, the safest way to enjoy Bali is not to drink at all. Plenty of travellers do, and it's easier than you might think. Most cafés, restaurants and beach clubs now serve fresh juices, mocktails, coconuts and alcohol-free beer.

If you're thinking about a sober trip, our guide to staying sober in Bali has practical tips.

If drinking has become a worry

Sometimes a scare like this makes people stop and think about how much they're drinking, on holiday or at home. If that's you, you're not alone, and there's no judgement here.

At Holistic Recovery Bali, we work with one client, or one couple, at a time, in a calm and private setting. We understand that for a lot of people, drinking started as fun and slowly became something else, and we hold space for that. If you'd like to talk about it, the first call is free and confidential.

Alcohol rehab in Bali · WhatsApp +62 811 3880 4006 · Australia toll-free 1800 329 014

If you suspect methanol poisoning, call 112 in Indonesia or go to the nearest hospital immediately. This article is general information, not medical advice.

Sources:

• Smartraveller: Indonesia travel advice
• The New Daily: Bali travel warning on poisonings and drownings (2025)