Smartraveller warns Australians to exercise ‘high degree of caution’ in Laos after shock alcohol poisoning punishments

The parents of two teenagers who died after drinking alcohol containing methanol in Laos have joined the Australian government in warning Australians travelling to the Asian country.

Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, died after consuming drinks containing the deadly alcohol while staying at a hostel in the tourist town Vang Vieng in November 2024.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Travel warning upgraded for Laos after Australian backpacker tragedy

Four other tourists — two Danish women, a US tourist and a British woman — also fell ill and died in the mass poisoning event.

Despite the global shock to the spate of deaths, it was revealed earlier this week that those responsible are likely to receive a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a collective fine of $1600.

Bianca’s mother, Michelle Jones, told Weekend Sunrise the lack of a serious punishment was “heartbreaking”.

“We just really can’t believe that lives don’t matter in Laos and it’s an absolute disgrace,” Jones said.

“Every day we’re heartbroken and yesterday it was just like a kick in the gut.”

Holly’s mother, Samantha Morton, said the situation was only made worse by the complexity of tracking the criminal case through the Laos judicial system.

“It’s been a challenge,” she told Weekend Sunrise, adding the girls’ families had tried to “figure out what the best charges are that can be laid and really just push for those”.

In response, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Friday raised the travel advice level to the South East Asian country.

“We now advise exercise a high degree of caution due to crime, the risk of methanol poisoning and ongoing concerns around lack of transparency in the justice system,” DFAT’s warning reads.

“The Lao legal system may not provide transparency or justice, particularly in criminal cases. Authorities may apply the law inconsistently.”

An ongoing warning to “avoid non-essential travel” remains for the central province of Xaisomboun due to “the high risk of armed attacks”.

While DFAT urges caution for Australian travelers, Jones pleaded with tourists to instead avoid the country entirely.

“(DFAT) made the Smartraveler now a level two to be travelling to Laos, which is fantastic. The government have been amazing and I just want to get the message out there,” she said.

“(But) just don’t travel over there now ... Just please do not travel in Laos.”

Morton added the friends and families of those travelling to Laos should “have a conversation” about how to stay safe.

“It’s things like just sticking to bottled drinks that have caps on them as in beers or not drinking the local spirits,” she said.

“Having your travel insurance prepared and knowing the symptoms (of methanol poisoning) which is so important ... and get yourself to the hospital as soon as you can.”

But they both agreed that the greatest deterance to potential future incidents would be for “harsher penalties and charges that are appropriate for the crime”.

Danish officials later confirmed the charges after international media outlets were denied entry to a press conference outlining the developments.

Authorities confirmed charges had been laid against the owner of a distillery in Laos after the mass methanol poisoning incident.

The charges relate to selling food that is harmful to health and operating an illegal business.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the matter had affected him deeply and he was disappointed that the indictment didn’t reflect the seriousness and extent of the tragedy affecting so many families.

He acknowledged it can be complicated to meet the burden of proof required to bring the most serious charges in such a case, but also pointed out that it is difficult to come to terms with such a lenient indictment.

The charges will make the accused liable to a prison sentence of between three months and four years and a fine if found guilty, Denmark’s foreign ministry said.

Parents ‘crushed’ by by the update

Holly’s parents, Morton and Shaun Bowles, earlier said they were crushed to learn of the light punishment.

“I don’t even think devastated is a strong enough word. It just crushes you,” Morton told Sunrise on Friday.

“It just crushed me.”

Bowles said action from the Australian Government is the family’s “last hope” for “real accountability”.

“We’ve done everything we can from our end and we haven’t got any more triggers to pull.

“We’re relying on the government to exhaust every avenue that they can, because there is nothing more from our end that we see we can do. We’re just hoping that they can step in.”

Special envoy sent to Laos

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong described the development as “deeply frustrating” after the Australian government summoned Laos’ ambassador to Canberra on Friday.

She said the charges “should reflect the gravity of the tragedy” and confirmed that she and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were expressing these expectations to their Lao counterparts.

“Since their deaths, Australia has advocated for a thorough and transparent investigation that takes into account all available evidence and for those responsible to be held to account,” Senator Wong said in a statement.

‘’What happened to Holly, Bianca and four other foreign nationals should never have happened.”

Australian diplomat Pablo Kang had been asked earlier in 2026 to “explore all avenues to progress the case”, and had engaged extensively with Lao authorities on behalf of the government and the families.

Kang is expected to travel to Laos to convey the government’s objections and reinforce the expectations for an investigation that delivers justice.

DFAT previously said the Laos Government “suggested the Prosecutor does not consider they have sufficient evidence to establish the necessary legal link between the Tiger alcohol and the deaths of Holly and Bianca”.