Eight employees of a backpacker hostel in Laos have been detained for questioning after six foreign tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning.

T he death of six tourists visiting Laos is suspected to be the result of mass methanol poisoning, after all are believed to have consumed alcoholic drinks tainted with the toxic substance. With officials issuing fresh warnings about the dangers of ingesting methanol, here’s what you should know about what it is and how it affects the body.