In November 2024, Clarke and Simone White, also 28, consumed vodka at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng. Clarke survived, but White and five others, two Australians, an American, and two Danish tourists died, with suspected methanol poisoning identified as the cause.
Clarke recalls the first signs of poisoning emerging during a kayaking trip at the Blue Lagoon, with symptoms including severe dizziness, fatigue, and vomiting. White’s condition worsened rapidly, leading to brain swelling, and she died after her life support was turned off.
Clarke is now campaigning for greater awareness about methanol poisoning. Her efforts include pushing for lessons on methanol safety in schools in England and Wales from September 2026, producing online educational videos, and advocating for airport and airline warnings about the dangers of industrial alcohol in spirits.
“We set up the ‘Simone White Methanol Awareness’ campaign and have already gathered 12,000 signatures for a parliamentary petition to include methanol education in school curricula,” Clarke said.
Methanol, an industrial alcohol found in products such as antifreeze, can cause blindness, neurological damage, and death even in small amounts. Poisoning incidents are often caused by homemade or illegally adulterated alcohol, sometimes deliberately added to spirits in countries with high alcohol taxes or production costs.
The tragedy has prompted warnings from the UK Foreign Office, advising travellers to avoid unverified alcohol overseas and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear.
Families of victims are still seeking justice. Reports suggest the hostel staff have not been held accountable, and Laotian authorities have proposed charges linked to food safety breaches, which may not lead to legal responsibility for the deaths. The hostel reportedly planned to reopen under a new name, raising further concerns among victims’ families.
Australian officials, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation and urged full accountability.
Clarke emphasizes prevention as the ultimate goal, calling for measures such as alcohol testing strips to detect methanol before consumption.
“Even if it takes years, we’ll keep pushing for solutions that save lives. It’s about prevention more than cure,” Clarke said.
The tragedy has highlighted the ongoing global risks of methanol poisoning, with data showing thousands affected worldwide over the past 25 years, and has prompted both educational and regulatory campaigns to prevent future incidents.
