Updated July 18, 2026 — 2:00am,first published July 16, 2026 — 11:17pmThe owner of a Laos distillery has been charged over the November 2024 methanol poisonings that killed Australians Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones, and could face up to four years in prison, according to Danish officials.Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been closely involved in the case because of the deaths of its citizens, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, in the same event. American James Hutson, 57, and Brit Simone White, 28, also died. All six were staying at the same hostel in the party town of Vang Vieng, north of the capital Vientiane.From left: Bianca Jones’ parents, Mark and Michelle Jones, and Holly Morton-Bowles’ parents, Samantha Morton and Shaun Bowles, were shocked after information that no one would face serious criminal charges over their daughters’ deaths.In a statement to this masthead after a planned press conference from Lao authorities on Friday, the Danish ministry said a distillery owner had been charged and could face penalties of “three months to four years in prison and a fine” for selling hazardous food products and illegally operating a business.“The case will formally remain open for 15 years; consequently, charges carrying a heavier penalty, such as negligent homicide, could still be brought if the burden of proof can be met,” the statement said.It is believed the “distillery” is Tiger, which sells products advertised as vodka and whisky. It has denied responsibility.The Melbourne families of Morton-Bowles and Jones were told by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Thursday that information from Lao officials suggested the maximum prison sentence available was only one year if the distillery owner was convicted. Fines totalling more than $1000 were also on the table, according to DFAT.Holly Morton-Bowles (left) and Bianca Jones were both 19 when they died.60 MinutesThe choice of the Lao authorities to not pursue more serious charges sparked outrage in Australia and a strong rebuke from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.But it is unclear which maximum prison term is correct – four years, per the Danish authorities, or one year. Wong’s office was unresponsive following Friday’s press conference.The Australian government did, however, raise its travel advice for Laos late on Friday from take normal precautions to “exercise a high degree of caution”.“The Lao legal system may not provide transparency or justice, particularly in criminal cases,” the Smartraveller website now reads. “Authorities may apply the law inconsistently. Several foreign nationals, including Australians, died of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks in 2024.”Wong said in a statement on Friday morning, before the press conference, that the government was “deeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed” with Laos and had summoned its Canberra ambassador.DFAT has previously apologised to the families for failing to keep them informed and appointed Pablo Kang, a former ambassador to Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates, as a “special envoy” on the case, bypassing the ambassador.Wong said she and the prime minister had asked Kang to travel to Laos on Friday “to convey the Australian government’s objections and reinforce our expectations for an investigation that delivers justice for Holly, Bianca and the other victims”. It was unclear if he made it to the press conference in the capital of Vientiane.“It’s very hard putting into words the disappointment we have,” Shaun Bowles, the father of Holly, told this masthead late on Thursday.“But I guess at the same time, not a whole lot of surprise, with the way that it’s all played out over there. We’ve literally just got [the information] in the last couple of hours, and we’re just trying to process it at the moment.“We’ve had so many conflicting stories from the Lao authorities. But I’ve always sort of been of the thinking that if they hadn’t [already] gathered the evidence … they’re not gathering any more evidence this late on in the investigation. And we’re all aware of the corruption and everything that goes on over there.”Bowles was unable to be contacted on Friday night.Wong said she would put Australia’s views to the Lao foreign minister next week at a meeting for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.‘We have consistently made clear our expectations that charges should reflect the gravity of the tragedy that claimed the lives of Holly and Bianca in November 2024.’Penny Wong, foreign ministerAustralia has budgeted $64 million in foreign aid for Laos this year.“We have consistently made clear our expectations that charges should reflect the gravity of the tragedy that claimed the lives of Holly and Bianca in November 2024. This includes the prime minister and I expressing these expectations directly to our respective counterparts,” Wong said.“What happened to Holly, Bianca and four other foreign nationals should never have happened.”Meanwhile, Bianca’s father, Mark Jones, has reportedly urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to contact his Lao counterpart.Mark Jones (left) and Shaun Bowles.Simon Schluter“It is disgusting that they think our daughters’ lives are only worth a year in jail or collectively a fine,” he told the Herald Sun.Laos is a one-party Communist state that does not tolerate free media. The Associated Press reported it was not allowed to attend Friday’s press conference.In January, a Lao court gave suspended sentences and fines to 10 staff members from Nana Backpacker Hostel for tampering with evidence in connection with the American’s case. This masthead understands that no one has yet faced court over the deaths of the Australians. A deadly byproductThe Melbourne friends, both 19, died in November 2024 after drinking methanol at hostel during a shot giveaway.Shots from Tiger vodka and whisky bottles were being served at the hostel on the night the backpackers became sick, but it is unclear whether the contents were genuinely from the Tiger factory or rather the moonshine commonly brewed in backyards.The Vang Vieng distributor for Tiger said the brand was sold in many places. Only people drinking at the hostel became sick.Keo Sinorlai said the Tiger business bought rubbing alcohol from a pharmacy in Vientiane, Laos and diluted it with water until it was 40 per cent.Zach HopeTiger, which is sold in 700ml bottles for the equivalent of about $2.50 a bottle, was nonetheless banned by Lao authorities following the poisonings.Methanol is a deadly byproduct in the brewing of drinkable alcohol (ethanol) and must be removed before sale.The operators of Tiger have denied responsibility. When this masthead in April tracked down a woman involved in the business, located on the outskirts of the Lao capital, Vientiane, she said it did not actually brew vodka and whisky, but rather bought hospital-grade alcohol from a pharmacy and diluted it with water and flavours.She claimed tests on the product had already cleared Tiger and that, as far as she knew, there was no legal action pending.Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.Zach Hope is South-East Asia correspondent. He is a former reporter at the Brisbane Times.Connect via email.From our partners