How To Drink Safely On Vacation, Because Tainted Alcohol Is Nothing To Mess With

[Elderberry]

Bustle By Caroline Burke 7/22/2019

The whole point of a vacation, for many people, is that it's supposed to be worry-free. But recent reports about tainted alcohol in popular travel destinations are a reminder that being prepared and aware of the risks is an absolute must. If you're worrying about how to drink safely on vacation, the good news is that there is plenty of solid advice available — but most of it requires a tiny bit of preparation.

According to CBS News, 19 people have died in Costa Rica in the last several weeks after drinking what Costa Rican authorities believe was tainted alcohol. The Costa Rican government has since confiscated approximately 30,000 bottles of alcohol that are suspected to contain toxic amounts of methanol. Via CBS News, the brands of these bottles include: Guaro Montano, Guaro Gran Apache, Aguardiente Estrella, Aguardiente Barón Rojo, Aguardiente Timbuka and Molotov Aguardiente. The investigation is still ongoing, CBS reports, and Costa Rican authorities have stated to the network that all information on the deaths is "preliminary."

Watching out for tainted alcohol is just one of many ways you can keep yourself safe while still enjoying your vacation. So if you're in the midst of planning your next vacation, here's what you should take into consideration to make sure you're drinking as safely and enjoyably as possible on your trip:

Do Your Research On The Place You're Visiting

Only Drink Cocktails That You Can Watch Being Made

Bring Drink Test Strips With You

Consider Opting For Canned Or Bottled Drinks

Bring Your Own Alcohol

Make A Plan For The Worst Case Scenario

Check For Travel Advisories Before You Go

Seek Medical Attention ASAP If You Feel Strange

Watch Out For Unregulated Alcohol

Avoid Surprisingly Cheap Liquor

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Keep Altitude & Temperature In Mind

Check In With Yourself & Your Friends

More: https://www.bustle.com/bustle-most-wanted-your-most-stylish-summer-vacation-ever

[Cyber Liberty]

One thing you can't do is BYOB, which sucks because it's the safest and cheapest solution for a traveler.

[Applewood]

I have a better idea:  stay out of these third world hell holes and vacation in the US.

[Sanguine]

I don't know about these test strips.  The only ones I can find are:  https://milehidistilling.com/product/methanol-test-kit/

$289 for a set.  A little steep.

[Sanguine]

I don't know about these test strips.  The only ones I can find are:  https://milehidistilling.com/product/methanol-test-kit/

$289 for a set.  A little steep.

[truth_seeker]

If you want to visit a 3rd world shirthole, just go to San Francisco.

On our very last trip to Ensenada BC, for a bicycle race during the 80s,

we witnessed a local vehicle, intentionally ram an American vehicle.

I sped to the border, never to return.

[PeteS in CA]

I have a better idea:  stay out of these third world hell holes and vacation in the US.

There are all kinds of places in Mexico, Peru, Germany, Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt, and more I'd love to visit (not that I have that kind of $$), but those just aren't the safest places for a pale American to visit.

[Applewood]

If you want to visit a 3rd world shirthole, just go to San Francisco.

On our very last trip to Ensenada BC, for a bicycle race during the 80s,

we witnessed a local vehicle, intentionally ram an American vehicle.

I sped to the border, never to return.

Yeah but you didn't get poisoned by an alcoholic beverage. 

I get your point and I agree about the liberal/socialist hellholes here.  But I just think it's way riskier for a vacationing American in these other countries.

[Applewood]

There are all kinds of places in Mexico, Peru, Germany, Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt, and more I'd love to visit (not that I have that kind of $$), but those just aren't the safest places for a pale American to visit.

I think you are relatively safe in European countries despite the influx of Middle Easteners.  At least these countries have some sort of infrastructure. 

Now Mexico and other countries like it are another matter.  The corruption runs deep and there is no protection from crime for residents, let alone tourists.  Hell, even the law enforcement and other government agencies are run by cartels and gangs.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear these poisonings are actively being encouraged by the powers that be.  They certainly don't seem to give a fig  when an American dies under suspicious circumstances in those countries.

[Cyber Liberty]

I think you are relatively safe in European countries despite the influx of Middle Easteners.  At least these countries have some sort of infrastructure. 

Now Mexico and other countries like it are another matter.  The corruption runs deep and there is no protection from crime for residents, let alone tourists.  Hell, even the law enforcement and other government agencies are run by cartels and gangs.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear these poisonings are actively being encouraged by the powers that be.  They certainly don't seem to give a fig  when an American dies under suspicious circumstances in those countries.

Bottom line:  Stay in the First World, and eschew Turd World Shitholes.  It's true now more than it ever was. I'm glad the Liberties did their trips to Mexico back in the Naughts when Bush was in office.

[Applewood]

@Cyber Liberty

I have family and friends who still vacation in Mexican resorts.  They tell me the beaches there are awesome.  Well, I've been to a few awesome beaches in the US.  At least I didn't have to worry about being poisoned by a tainted alcoholic beverage made by someone who hates Americans.

[Cyber Liberty]

@Cyber Liberty

I have family and friends who still vacation in Mexican resorts.  They tell me the beaches there are awesome.  Well, I've been to a few awesome beaches in the US.  At least I didn't have to worry about being poisoned by a tainted alcoholic beverage made by someone who hates Americans.

The beaches are indeed beautiful.  But, back in the day, the Mexican government saw a benefit to protecting the tourist destinations from the predations of the Cartels.  Those days are gone.  You're not even safe sitting in a cruise vessel in a port.

[Applewood]

The beaches are indeed beautiful.  But, back in the day, the Mexican government saw a benefit to protecting the tourist destinations from the predations of the Cartels.  Those days are gone.  You're not even safe sitting in a cruise vessel in a port.

Seems like you aren't so safe in the resorts either. 

When I go on vacation, I don't want to just stay in the hotel/resort.  I want to explore the locale, eat at local restaurants, see  the sights, get the local flavor.  In these hellholes, you can't do that.  Even taking an organized excursion can be risky.  Tourists on a chartered bus have been held hostage, robbed and maybe killed.    No thank you.

[truth_seeker]

Go to the beach in Orange County CA. Cool, clean, plenty of other stuff to do if it interests, like Disneyland, Knnott's Berry Farm, Uni Studios,

If you visit in the winter, on some days you can ski locally in the morning,  and surf in the afternoon.

[berdie]

Seems like you aren't so safe in the resorts either. 

When I go on vacation, I don't want to just stay in the hotel/resort.  I want to explore the locale, eat at local restaurants, see  the sights, get the local flavor.  In these hellholes, you can't do that.  Even taking an organized excursion can be risky.  Tourists on a chartered bus have been held hostage, robbed and maybe killed.    No thank you.

I feel the same way.  Back in the day, when I went to Mexico or other locales I would rent a car and drive all over. No way I would do that any more. Why stay at a resort in a foreign country? Why not just pitch a tent in the backyard? The fun days are over.

[Night Hides Not]

Go to the beach in Orange County CA. Cool, clean, plenty of other stuff to do if it interests, like Disneyland, Knnott's Berry Farm, Uni Studios,

If you visit in the winter, on some days you can ski locally in the morning,  and surf in the afternoon.

The beaches at White Sands National Monument are fantastic!  The only drawback is there's no water, but you can slide down the sand dunes. No matter how hot it is, the sand is usually no more than 80 degrees.