The Federal Government has launched a campaign to warn young Australians about the dangers of consuming alcohol overseas.
This follows the deaths last year of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles who drank alcohol tainted with methanol while on holiday in Laos.
From next month, Smartraveller will roll out dedicated communications to raise awareness and educate Australians of the signs of methanol poisoning, how to protect themselves from drink spiking and broader alcohol safety.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said the new communication efforts would help young Australians travelling overseas to protect themselves from methanol poisoning, drinking spiking and other alcohol risks.
“We want our children to be curious and explore the world – but above all else, we want them to be safe,” she said.
The campaign will ramp up across peak travel periods and school and university holidays. It will include:
- Targeted advice and alerts to young travellers, including school leavers, and their parents through social media, text messages and messaging at Australia’s international airports.
- A new online safety hub on Smartraveller will be established by June 2025, which will host resources aimed at schools, universities and parents.
Senator Wong said the Government had consistently called for a transparent and thorough investigation into the deaths of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles. Those efforts would continue.
