Australia’s Government and Families of Teenage Victims Lament Charges
The Australian government and the families of two teenagers who died from methanol poisoning in Laos have condemned the charges expected to be laid by Lao authorities in connection with the deaths of the two Australian women. Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, were among six foreigners killed by tainted alcohol at a tourist hostel in Vang Vieng in November 2024.
The families of the victims have expressed their outrage at the anticipated charges, which they claim are inadequate. According to information received by the families, the penalties the accused are expected to face if convicted are up to a year in jail and a fine of about 1,600 Australian dollars ($1,117). The families have described this resolution as ‘unacceptable,’ stating that it ‘is like their lives didn’t even matter.’
Bianca’s mother, Michelle, expressed her deep disappointment at the anticipated charges, stating, ‘We’re just really appalled by it all. You know, they were just going over to have a bit of fun and just doing the rite of passage that every, you know, child or teenager does. So for that outcome, it was just devastating.’
Mark Jones, Bianca’s father, echoed his wife’s sentiments, stating, ‘It’s mind-boggling because (Laos) is a popular tourist destination for a lot of travelers, a lot of Australian, young Australian travelers and young people from around the world.’
Methanol Poisoning: A Global Problem
Methanol poisoning is a problem that affects not only tourists but also local residents all over the world. According to statistics compiled by the medical assistance group Doctors Without Borders, Indonesia, India, and Russia are countries with the most reported incidents of methanol poisoning.
Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but it can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled home-brew liquor and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently.
The two Australian women had been staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where they reportedly consumed ‘free shots’ of Laotian vodka before heading out to other venues. When they failed to check out as planned, they were found sick in their room and eventually evacuated to hospitals in neighboring Thailand, where they later died.
Australia’s Government Reacts
Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has expressed her deep frustration and disappointment at the anticipated charges, stating that authorities weren’t pursuing ‘the most serious charges’ in relation to the women’s deaths. Wong’s office did not immediately respond to a request for details of the expected counts and her statement did not specify how many people were due to be charged.
Australian officials had dispatched an envoy to Laos to convey the Australian government’s objections and reinforce their expectations for an investigation that delivers justice for Holly, Bianca, and the other victims of the methanol poisoning. Australian officials had also summoned Laos’ ambassador to Canberra, she added.
Laos is an authoritarian one-party communist state that tightly controls information. A text message from The Associated Press to the Lao Foreign Ministry asking for an official comment received the reply that information would be made available at a news conference that would be open only to local media and the foreign embassies concerned.
