Australia updates travel advice for Laos as charges announced over mass methanol poisoning

Distillery owner could face only three months in jail over alleged poisoning of Australian teenagers

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

The Australian government has increased its travel alert level for Laos, advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution" due to the risk of methanol poisoning.

It comes as a distillery owner in Laos was charged after a mass methanol poisoning incident killed six foreign nationals, including the Australian backpackers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles.