Government pushes alcohol safety after Melbourne teenagers fatally poisoned by methanol in Laos
Young Australians heading to schoolies or on adventures abroad have been issued a stark warning.
The tragic methanol poisoning deaths of Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, in Laos last year has prompted federal government action to protect young travellers from the dangers lurking overseas.
An information resource known as the Partying Safely Hub has officially launched today, backed by Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.
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The Partying Safely Hub has been launched by the federal government. Supplied
The resource will sit on the Smartraveller website and provide vital education about alcohol and drug safety while travelling.
It also has specific information about methanol poisoning and drink spiking.
Among the free resources are methanol poisoning fact sheets, a poster which details the symptoms and a video which shares advice on how to avoid it.
The poster described the symptoms as "a hangover that's worse than it should be or gets worse over time".
The hub also warns travellers to never drink from unlabelled bottles or to accept free shots, homemade or bootleg alcohol.
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The hub has specific information about methanol poisoning and drink spiking. Supplied
The Partying Safely Hub has been partly inspired by Jones and Bowles, who died in Laos alongside four other tourists after drinking contaminated alcohol at a backpacker hotel.
"The tragic deaths of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles as a result of methanol poisoning in Laos are a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers young people face when travelling abroad," Wong said.
"We want young Australians to explore the world with confidence, but above all we want them to have the knowledge and resources to come home safely."
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Holly Bowles (right) and her best friend Bianca Jones (left). Supplied
Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said travelling overseas is a "rite of passage" for many Australians and the government wants to ensure it can be done safely.
"This Hub is part of the Albanese government's work to help protect young Australians travelling overseas," Thistlethwaite said.
The campaign has been rolled out ahead of schoolies in November, where thousands of school leavers head overseas to celebrate their graduation.
The government also has specific advice to schoolies travellers online here.
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