Campaigners raising awareness of methanol poisoning following the death of a solicitor a year ago today have managed to secure significant reform – but want to do more.
Simone White, a 28-year-old associate at City firm Squire Patton Boggs, died last November after drinking methanol-laced drinks in Laos. Her best friend Bethany Clarke, who was hospitalised as a result of methanol poisoning, set up an awareness campaign in White's memory.
Solicitor Hannah-Mei Grisley, who worked with White at Squire Patton Boggs, where they started out as trainees together, is a member of the campaign team.
Grisley told the Gazette that the campaign started out as a parliamentary petition to put the dangers of methanol poisoning on the school curriculum. The petition attracted 12,442 signatures. Statutory guidance was published by the Department for Education in July stating that schools must cover in their curriculum content for health education how to reduce the risk of drinks being spiked or poisoned with potentially fatal substances such as methanol. The campaign is hoping the curriculum will also be changed in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Read more
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has now updated its travel guidance for 25 countries to include warnings about methanol poisoning. The campaign welcomed the update but Grisley said the warnings need to go further, noting that people have died after drinking from sealed bottles and at licensed premises. The campaign also wants airports and airlines to carry warnings.
Hamish Falconer, FCDO minister responsible for consular and crisis, told the Gazette: ‘Sadly, some British nationals have died or been left with life-changing injuries because of drinks contaminated with methanol. If you’re drinking spirits overseas, stick to trusted places and avoid homemade alcohol or free shots. If something feels off, like a hangover that’s way worse than normal or vision problems - get medical help fast.
‘No family should endure what the campaigners’ families, including the family of Simone White, have suffered. Their determination to prevent others facing the same tragedy has been instrumental in driving forward these vital updates to our travel advice.’
Grisley described White as the 'social secretary' of their trainee cohort and has paid tribute to her friend in a piece for the Gazette.
No comments yet