Methanol Alcohol Alert in Hoi An, Vietnam: Bartender Arrested After 2 Deaths

A bartender who sold methanol-based alcohol in the famous Vietnamese tourist destination Hoi An, causing the deaths of two foreign tourists, has been arrested. Methanol is not alcohol but essentially a poison.

On the 7th (local time), the police in Hoi An, central Vietnam, arrested a bartender who sold methanol-made liquor, resulting in the deaths of two foreign tourists. Photo by Yonhap News

According to foreign media including VN Express on the 8th (local time), local police in central Hoi An arrested a restaurant bartender on such charges the day before.

He is accused of mixing medical methanol, water, lemon flavor, and sugar to make a type of alcohol called 'Limoncello' at the restaurant on December 24 last year. Two days later, on December 26, a 36-year-old South African man and a 33-year-old British woman couple were found dead in a villa room in downtown Hoi An after drinking this alcohol.

The police confirmed that there were no external injuries on them and that alcohol bottles were found at the scene of death. After investigation, it was revealed that they died from severe methanol poisoning. The police then identified the place where they drank the alcohol and conducted an investigation, seizing several bottles of alcohol used at the scene.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.