Six tourists have died in a suspected alcohol poisoning in Laos. Police are looking into whether the alcoholic drinks contained methanol, a highly poisonous substance for humans. This is a recurring issue across Southeast Asia. Host Carol Hills speaks with Dr. Wayne Carter, a leading toxicologist at the University of Nottingham in the UK, about why methanol is so harmful in alcoholic drinks.
The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?