In Vang Vieng, Laos, hosts often offered free shots, “happy hours,” and beer buckets to attract young backpackers. These drinks, cheap and sometimes homemade, are part of the town’s wild party culture. These free or very cheap drinks might be mixed with dangerous substances like methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol that can cause vomiting, vision loss, seizures, coma, or death even in small amounts. An ex‑bar worker revealed that popular “buckets” sometimes included local whisky, cola, energy drinks, and even opium or mushrooms, and were unregulated and dangerously strong. The Laotian authorities detained hostel workers after the deaths and charged them under the food safety legislation, but families say the charges are insufficient. The UK and other countries have also elevated travel warnings to alert visitors. Victims included citizens of the UK, Australia, Denmark, and the U.S. The families and activists now call for better education and stricter warnings to prevent young travelers from getting hurt or killed.
Pray for the lawmakers to implement more stringent measures to ban the poisonous drinks in Laos. Pray for the Laotian government to take necessary action to educate the people about the hazardous drinks (The Holy Bible, Proverbs 24:6).
Pray for justice to be done for the victims. Pray for improved and strong regulations to safeguard the safety of the tourists and the people in Laos (The Holy Bible, Psalm 72:2).
News Source: BBC, AP News
Image Source: Canva
