Laos authorities have not been able to determine the cause of death of six backpackers – including a British lawyer and two Australian 19-year-olds – after a mass methanol poisoning.

Six tourists died in 2024 in incidents linked to methanol-tainted alcohol, but cause and blame have not been established as no autopsies took place.

Two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton and two Australians died following what media reports said was a night out in Vang Vieng in November that year.

Yet the owner of the distillery has avoided charges over the deaths, instead facing action over selling substances dangerous to health.

British lawyer Simone White, 28, died from a bleed on the brain after unwittingly being poisoned by the dangerous substance nine days before her death.

Ms White, of Orpington, South London died on November 21 at the Kasemrad International Hospital in the Laos capital of Vientiane.

At the opening of an inquest into her death, a court heard she died of methanol toxicity leading to an intercranial haemorrhage.

She was one of multiple backpackers reportedly offered free vodka shots at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in the town. 

Simone White, 28, died in Laos on November 21 after drinking methanol-laced shots

Holly Morton-Bowles, 19, was among six foreign tourists to die after staying at Nana Backpacker Hostel

Best friends Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, from Melbourne, also died, as did US tourist James Hutson, 57, and Danish friends Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Sorensen, 21.

‘To date, authorities do not yet have evidence that can establish whether the deaths… were caused by the actions of any individual or by any particular causes,’ the Laos Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on Saturday.

‘This is because the authorities were not permitted to conduct autopsies on the bodies of the deceased, and therefore lacked the forensic evidence necessary to determine the cause of death,’ it said.

However, the statement added: ‘The Ministry of Health’s Food and Drug Research Center found excessive levels of methanol in Tiger Vodka.’

Methanol is a toxic alcohol that can be added to liquor to increase its potency but can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

The statement said, based on information provided by the Australian Embassy and a Thai hospital, that ‘methanol had been detected in the blood of the two deceased Australian tourists’.

It said legal proceedings had been initiated against the owner of the Tiger distillery for ‘manufacturing or selling products hazardous to health’ and ‘illegal commercial operation’.

The owner and 10 employees of the hostel where the American tourist was staying have also been charged with ‘destruction of evidence’ after transporting his body to hospital.

Bianca Jones (pictured) and Holly died after consuming methanol-laced drinks during a happy hour event at the hostel

The Melbourne teens were among six tourists staying at Nana Backpacker Hostel who died after consuming methanol-laced drinks. The hostel has since reopened under a new name 

The pace of the investigation has been a source of contention between Canberra and Vientiane.

‘The Australian Government is deeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed that authorities in Laos are not pursuing the most serious charges,’ Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday.

Wong said she would again put Australia’s views directly to her Laos counterpart at a Southeast Asian ministerial meeting in Manila next week.

Bianca’s parents, Mark and Michelle Jones, told AAP on Friday they were devastated over the legal outcome they believed felt inadequate.

‘All up, our daughter, along with four other beautiful women, their lives are worth less than a year and about $1,600,’ Mr Jones said.

‘We’re disgusted and angry.’

Vang Vieng has been a fixture on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail since Laos’ communist rulers opened the country to tourism decades ago.

The town was once synonymous with alcohol and drug-fuelled jungle parties for backpackers but has since rebranded as an ecotourism destination.

Australian authorities have warned travellers to Laos to ‘be alert’ to the risks of consuming spirits-based drinks, including cocktails.

The travel advice notes that Lao authorities issued a ban on the sale and consumption of the local brands of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky due to health concerns.

And this week, the British government launched a new ‘Know the Signs’ campaign to increase awareness around methanol poisoning, including experiences of families who have lost loved ones. 

Hannah-Mei Grisley, a friend of Simone, said: ‘Before Simone died, I’d never heard of methanol poisoning. 

‘I had no idea that something so dangerous could be present in a drink without any obvious warning signs. 

‘The next morning, they [Simone and Bethany] woke up and thought they had a really bad hangover. Simone vomited, Bethany fainted, and that’s when they knew something was seriously wrong. 

‘That’s why it’s so important that people know how to reduce the risk when drinking alcohol overseas and seek urgent help as soon as something doesn’t feel right.’