Parents slam hostel staff’s $176 fine after daughters’ alcohol-related deaths – National
The families of two Melbourne teenagers who died after drinking contaminated alcohol in Laos have slammed the AU$185 (about $176 CAD) fines levied on workers who served the fatal drinks.
Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, 19, died after drinking contaminated alcohol laced with methanol at the Nana Backpacker hostel in November 2024, part of a poisoning that killed two Danish women, an American tourist and a British woman.
The two Australian women, 19, fell ill after going out drinking with a group at night and failed to check in at the Nana Backpacker hostel as planned. The women were found sick in their bedroom and taken to Thailand for emergency treatment, where they both died in hospital.
Thai authorities confirmed that Jones died of “brain inflammation due to high levels of methanol found in his system.”
The fathers of these women, Shaun Bowles and Mark Jones, said they were still unclear about the case involving the hostel workers, which is in the Vang Vieng People’s Court in Laos.
They were part of a group discussion with the families of the deceased providing them with information and that’s when they learned that 10 people connected to this hostel faced a judge in late January.
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Those 10 people were fined AU$185 each and given a suspended sentence for suppressing evidence, 9News reported.
“We are shocked at the complete injustice of our girls and others,” said Jones. “We have not done anything with anyone from the Lao government.
“To think that the authorities in Laos believe that those involved in killing our daughters are worth $185 is truly disgraceful.”
The fathers initially thought the court case was related to the death of their daughters, but the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that the evidence tampering case was related to the death of an American tourist.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Department of Foreign Affairs was in contact with the Bowles and Jones families.
“I have made it clear to my Lao counterpart that Australia expects full accountability,” Wong said in a statement. “I have also made it clear that the cases must show the severity of this tragedy that left six people dead, including Holly and Bianca.”
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware that the Vang Vieng District Court has convicted people of destroying evidence related to the death of an American citizen,” Wong said. “We continue to press the Lao authorities for charges related to the deaths of Holly and Bianca, and we will continue to support the families of Holly and Bianca during this difficult time.”
Bowles and Jones have called on the Australian government to step in and help get justice for their daughters’ deaths.
“As citizens of this country, we expect the government to take care of its people and get its citizens justice when they leave,” said Jones.
“We will not enter the country. There is nothing we can do. We need the government to do something because there is nothing we can do,” added Bowles.
The Australian prime minister said the federal government would do everything possible to support the Bowles and Jones families.
“The foreign minister has made it clear to his Lao counterpart that Australia expects full accountability and the charges must reflect the tragic seriousness of this incident. We will continue to engage with the Lao authorities on these charges,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said during question time at the daily parliamentary session with MPs on Monday.
In November 2024, Canada issued a travel advisory after six tourists, most of them aged 19 to 20, died of methanol poisoning in a popular backpacker town in northern Laos.
“A number of foreigners in Vang Vieng have been victims of suspected methanol-adulterated alcohol poisoning,” the warning read. “Be careful when you choose to drink alcohol. Avoid accepting free or discounted drinks. Only buy alcohol in sealed bottles and cans from reputable stores. Seek medical attention if you become ill.”
Methanol is a clear, colorless alcohol used in all kinds of everyday products such as industrial cleaners, solvents, paints, cosmetics and antifreeze. Methanol is toxic and fatal if ingested.
Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks in bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but it can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a poorly distilled alcohol product and could inadvertently find its way into bar drinks.
– Via files from the Associated Press
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