Two Melbourne teenagers on life support in Thailand after ethanol poisoning in Laos

The 19-year-old girls were staying at a youth hostel in Vientiane, Laos when they consumed cocktails that were believed to contain a poisonous substance.

They are now in different hospitals in Thailand, and one of the girls was flown to Bangkok, where her family is now with her.

News of the poisoning was reported by 3AW’s Jackie Felgate, who said she had spoken to the father of one of the girls and her condition was “serious”.

The girls were on holiday at university and traveling as part of a larger group, and ten other people are also believed to have contracted the disease.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol found in household and industrial products, the US National Library of Medicine describes exposure to methanol as “extremely dangerous” with a significant risk of death if left untreated.

Severe symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, blindness, and seizures.

Despite its toxicity, methanol is sometimes added to smuggled alcoholic beverages as a cheap alternative to ethanol (the standard alcohol in alcoholic beverages).

In August, six people died in Bangkok and another 31 were hospitalized after drinking an herbal drink laced with methanol.

Thai authorities said those who consumed the drink likely bought it from one of 18 different locations in Bangkok that bought it from the same supplier.

The vendor reportedly told police she bought the booze from the two brothers and didn’t know it contained methanol.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.