The FCO has issued a warning to UK travellers visiting Costa Rica after a number of people are reported to have died due to drinking alcoholic laced with methanol.
Criminal gangs are accused of manufacturing bottles of alcohol containing high amounts of the toxic liquid used found in solvents and anti-freeze.
Five women and 14 men aged 32 to 72 have died since early June.
The FCO said visitors should “take care” when buying any spirit-based drinks.
Brands understood to contain methanol are: Guaro Gran Apache, Aguardiente Estrella Roja, Guaro Montano, Aguardiente Barón Rojo, Aguardiente Timbuka and Aguardiente Molotov.
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Methanol can cause headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting and high doses can cause blindness or vision loss.
Chronic exposure may cause liver damage, cirrhosis or even death from respiratory or cardiac failure.
The FCO’s advice said: “If you, or someone you’re travelling with, shows signs of alcohol-induced methanol poisoning, seek immediate medical attention.”
The updated advice comes after a spate of unexplained deaths at hotels in the Dominican Republic that were linked to bootleg alcohol.
Nine US tourists died in the country in the past year, including at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana, Excellence Resort in Punta Cana, the Grand Bahia Principe and Luxury Bahia Principe, both in Bouganville, and the Terra Linda Resort in Sosua.