Special investigation: Sip of death on Indonesian island paradise At the Happy Cafe in Senggigi, Lombok (Indonesia) News Ltd journalists are sold the traditional Arak drink in takeaway plastic containers for around $25 (AUD) per bottle. Picture: Jonathan Marshall Source: News Limited INDONESIAN drinking holes linked to death and injury of Aussie tourists are defiantly continuing to sell dangerous alcohol laced with "industrial grade methylated spirits." The Gili Trawangan venue where Perth carpenter Liam Davies consumed alcohol on New Year's Eve - then died a few days later of suspected methanol poisoning - is selling vodka containing the potentially-lethal chemical. Happy Cafe in Senggigi, Lombok where Sydney nurse Jamie Johnston consumed the traditional Balinese spirit Arak in 2011, then suffered brain and kidney damage, is serving drinks from a bottled labelled Jose Cuervo tequila containing "significant levels of methanol." Independent scientific testing commissioned by News Ltd last week confirmed also that both businesses are selling alcoholic drinks labelled Malibu rum and Disaronno amaretto containing double the alcohol content as is stated on the source bottles. Scientists said the methanol detected in the samples were consistent with "the use of industrial grade methylated spirits." In the wake of News Ltd's special investigation, the government last night announced it would revise its official advice provided to Australians visiting Indonesia, and would recommend pre-bottled drinks - such as beer - were the best way to avoid methanol drinks. And there were renewed calls for the government to take urgent action with Indonesian authorities to ensure no more lives are claimed as a result of dangerous cocktails. Mr Davies' father travelled to Indonesia last weekend to begin searching for answers over his son's death and told News Ltd there was a "worrying" lack of understanding in the Southeast Asian country about methanol and how it can have fatal consequences. In light of a News Limited investigation, the Australian Government has announced it will revise its official advice provided to Australians visiting Indonesia. Picture: Jonathan Marshall "There is a general lack of awareness and that is surprising given how many people, including locals, have died and become sick," Tim Davies said. In 2009, 23 people died in Lombok and the surrounding islands from methanol poisoning. Australia's Bali Consul-General has met in recent days with Indonesian police and health officials to express concern about the increased number of methanol-related incidents. Brett Farmer said the Indonesian government was concerned how negative publicity could impact on the country's tourism trade. News Ltd has been told by numerous Indonesian hospitality sources that methanol is added to drinks at bars and nightclubs so they can make their products go further, and consequently lead to an increased profit margin. The country has a high alcohol tax of more than 200 per cent on some products. Director of the Melbourne-based laboratory commissioned by News Ltd to test alcoholic samples taken from Indonesia, described the results as shocking, and said people consuming liquor like the products analysed were putting themselves in harm's way. John Franceschini said methanol was detected at a level of 2.5 per cent in a bottle of vodka purchased from Rudy's Bar and Restaurant. The Happy Cafe in Senggigi, Lombok (Indonesia). "Exposure to Methanol of any sort is not great," Mr Franceschini said. A result of 2.5 per cent is...above any acceptable levels currently being considered and is therefore potentially hazardous to anyone regularly consuming the product. He added that while one drink may not cause significant problems "regular usage or binge usage could be quite dangerous at this level." University of Sydney Professor of Medicine Paul Haber said methanol "can be fatal when consumed...it can cause blindness or death." Currently the government's travel advisory warns against methanol and urges travellers to be cautious of the chemical. But with no way for drinkers to know if their drink actually contains methanol, a spokesman for Foreign Minister Bob Carr last night said the advice was to change. The spokesman said drinking bottled products was the safest option. Drinking at "reputable places like The Westin" was also advisable. Meanwhile, Indonesian police have finally begun investigating the death of Liam Davies, a month after he died. His father and mother met with local police last week and they are calling for manslaughter charges to be laid against the bar owners where their son spent New Years Eve with friends. The Davies family and Liam's New Zealand-based aunty were establishing a charity to fund medical equipment for popular Indonesian party areas which would be used to detect methanol levels in patients' blood. Liam was initially - and incorrectly - diagnosed with a brain aneurism by Lombok doctors. It was not until he was airlifted to Perth that his actual medical condition was known. Perth police are currently investigating Liam's death on behalf of the coroner. Father Tim Davies said his wife and two other sons continued to be emotionally torn following Liam's tragic passing. Words can't describe the sorrow and pain, it is like a bad dream, and all because of some silly dangerous drink. What is methanol? Methanol is a poisonous liquid that is colourless and odourless. It should never be consumed. When consumed methanol can cause extreme dizziness, severe headaches and seizures. Methanol poisoning can render a person temporarily blind or cause blurred vision. The digestive system will attempt to reject methanol causing severe stomach pain and nausea. Consumption can disrupt liver and pancreatic function. Consumption can be fatal. Methanol is produced through poor distillation methods. It's a sign of badly produced alcohol and the effects are immediate. Some medical experts say methanol is intentionally added to liquor in Indonesia because it is cheap and potent. A drink to die for . . . Liam Davies, 19, from Perth, died in January this year after drinking a Vodka mix containing methanol from Rudy's Bar and Restaurant on Gili Trawangan. - Jamie Johnston, then 25 of Sydney, suffered brain damage and kidney failure from a methanol laced jug of Arak from the Happy Cafe on Lombok in September 2011. - Michael Denton, 29, of Perth died in Sanglah Hospital, Bali, of methanol poisoning after drinking a cocktail on a rugby trip. - Johan Lundin, 28, a Swedish national, died in June last year after drinking a mojito at Suma Suma bar on Gili Trawangan. - In 2009, 23 people died in Lombok and the surrounding islands from methanol poisoning. How the testing was done News Ltd travelled to Indonesia and purchased alcohol from the bars implicated in today's investigation. The venues were not told the samples were being tested by an Australian media organisation. The samples were submitted to leading Melbourne laboratory Sharp and Howells and tested for alcohol content, ethanol content and methanol content. The company was established in 1922 and is accredited with the National Association of Testing Authorities. The tests completed by Sharp and Howells were paid for and not the result of any advertising arrangement with News Ltd.