Brother of Laos methanol victim says £135 fines ‘an absolute joke’

2 hours agoJack GrayBBC Newsbeat

Zak White

The brother of a British tourist who died in a mass methanol poisoning says the punishments issued to 10 people linked to the case are an “absolute joke”.

Simone White, 28, was one of six people who died after drinking free shots at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, in November 2024.

The UK government recently told Simone’s family that 10 people charged with destruction of evidence had received suspended sentences and fines of $185 (£135) each, with no plans for further action to be taken.

Her brother, Zak White, tells BBC Newsbeat: “I don’t think we’re ever going to get to the bottom of what happened and get a fair punishment.”

Trainee lawyer Simone and childhood friend Bethany Clarke had met up in Laos and spent a night at the hostel, where about 100 guests were given free shots.

It is thought those drinks were tainted with methanol, a toxic substance normally found in paint thinner but that is sometimes mixed with alcohol illegally to cut costs.

The friends felt unwell the next day and were eventually taken to hospital, where Simone, from Orpington in south-east London, was put on life support before she died.

Since then, survivor Bethany and Simone’s family have been pushing for greater awareness of the dangers of methanol, and answers from authorities in Laos.

A recent update from the UK Foreign Office, shared with relatives and seen by Newsbeat, says 13 suspects were initially arrested.

Of those, 10 people connected to the Nana Hostel were convicted of destruction of evidence, according to the memo.

It said the owner of the distillery believed to have supplied the methanol was still awaiting trial.

Bethany, speaking to Newsbeat from her home in Australia, said the news had made her feel “pure frustration” and “anger”.

It suggests that no-one is likely to be found criminally responsible over the deaths, nor the life-changing injuries suffered by other tourists.

“Thinking about all of the families involved, obviously they all want justice and it just seems like they’re not going to get it,” says Bethany.

Bethany Clarke

Zak tells Newsbeat the family had braced themselves for an unsatisfying resolution to the case.

“We’ve kind of had a strong kind of indication that there wasn’t really ever going to be any justice,” he says.

“The Laos authorities have been very difficult throughout the whole process and not very forthcoming with trying to speed things along.”

The Foreign Office said Laos’ Ministry of Public Security had said the hostel could not reopen until court proceedings concluded – although it was not clear if this included those involving the distillery owner.

But Newsbeat found listings for the rebranded Paradise Hostel available on Booking.com and Agoda.

We were told the business was under new ownership, but the listing disappeared from Booking.com after it noticed “unusual activity” in its reviews.

A spokesperson said it had suspended the listing temporarily for breaching its terms and conditions.

Agoda said it was investigating the listing after being contacted by Newsbeat.

White Family

Bethany says there are still unanswered questions over the case, such as the identities of those charged, and frustration at the lack of concrete information coming out of Laos.

“Even to this day, having spoken to a few different people, I still don’t really know exactly what is going on right now,” she says.

“I don’t know what these charges relate to exactly, and I don’t know who they relate to exactly.

“We haven’t got a clue what’s going on with any of it. So it’s very limited communications from the law authorities.”

Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said the UK government “share the disappointment of the families at this outcome and we understand their frustration”.

He said the government had “been clear” it expected “robust action” from Laos against those who sell tainted alcohol and continued to raise the issue via its embassy.”

The Foreign Office has previously extended its methanol warnings to 27 countries deemed high-risk, and worked with content creators to spread awareness on social media.

But both Zak and Bethany have said they want those efforts to go further.

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