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The family of a British tourist who tragically died in a mass methanol poisoning expressed deep frustration after authorities chose not to press charges in connection with her death. Simone White, 28, was one of six individuals who lost their lives following the consumption of free shots at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, in November 2024.
According to officials from the Southeast Asian country, it was not possible to conclusively determine whether the fatalities resulted from any individual’s actions or a specific cause, citing the absence of autopsies as a key reason. Simone’s brother, Zak, criticized this conclusion, calling it “pretty ridiculous” because Simone’s death certificate from Laos clearly states methanol toxicity as part of the cause of death.
Simone, a trainee lawyer from Orpington, southeast London, along with her childhood friend Bethany Clarke, were among roughly 100 hostel guests who were given the shots believed to be contaminated with methanol. Both fell ill the following day and were hospitalized; while Bethany survived, Simone was placed on life support before eventually passing away. In addition to the British tourists, the poisoning claimed the lives of two Australians, two Danish nationals, and one American.
Zak described the official stance as a “slap in the face,” especially since the death certificate explicitly mentions methanol toxicity, which he believes should serve as sufficient proof. He and Bethany had feared a lack of resolution given the authorities’ slow progress on the case. Although the case remains open for 15 years, Bethany has expressed little hope for further developments from the Laotian legal system, stating, “To my mind it’s very clear what’s happened,” and questioning why the cause isn’t obvious to authorities.
Since Simone’s passing, her family and Bethany have worked to raise awareness about methanol dangers through their MethaKnow campaign. The UK government has also launched its own campaign on this issue and updated travel advice to include warnings for 29 countries such as Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. However, the family feels neglected in terms of official communication, accusing the UK government of leaving them “in the dark” regarding updates on the investigation. Both Zak and Bethany, living in the UK and Australia respectively, have had to rely on information shared by other affected families from Denmark and Australia. Bethany described the situation as stressful, saying she often finds herself uninformed when asked to speak publicly about the case.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office acknowledged the painful wait endured by the bereaved families and recognized that the latest announcement from Laos caused further grief and frustration. They reaffirmed the UK’s expectation that Laos take strong action against those responsible and confirmed officials remain in regular contact with Simone’s family.
Meanwhile, the hostel involved in the tragedy, now rebranded as Paradise Hostel, continues to accept bookings as observed on Booking.com this week. The listing was temporarily removed earlier this year following a breach of the holiday site’s terms, attributed to “unusual activity” in the review section. A spokesperson for the site confirmed that new ownership had taken over the hostel property. Both Zak and Bethany argue that travel booking platforms should provide warnings to travelers about the hostel’s history to prevent future incidents.
Methanol is a dangerous, colorless liquid that is sometimes illegally mixed into alcoholic drinks. Symptoms of methanol poisoning often begin with vomiting, poor judgment, loss of balance, and drowsiness. In the following 12 to 48 hours, individuals may experience abdominal pain, dizziness, rapid breathing, blurred vision or blindness, coma, and convulsions. Vision problems, including blurred sight, difficulty with bright lights, or total blindness, are critical warning signs indicative of methanol poisoning
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