Bar rocked by bombshell claims as Laos police ramp up probe into mass alcohol poisoning that claimed the life of one Aussie and three other tourists

Locals have claimed a notorious bar in Laos where two Australian tourists partied the night they ingested toxic levels of methanol has links to the Asian mafia, as police step up their investigation into alleged mass alcohol poisoning.

Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and best friend Holly Bowles, both aged 19, were rushed to various hospitals in Thailand and put on a ventilator on November 13.

The best friends stayed at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in the party town of Vang Vieng, 196 kilometers from the border with Thailand, where they drank mixed spirits at the bar the night before.

WhatsApp messages have since revealed the pair then left the hostel and traveled 950 meters to Jaidee’s Bar on the beach.

The infamous party bar, which offers free spirits, also has a hard copy ‘drug menu’, where customers can get opium, ecstasy and ketamine.

A man who tried to help Australian teenagers after they started feeling unwell claimed they had been drinking spirits laced with methanol.

Mrs. Jones died on Thursday surrounded by loved ones. Her best friend is still in critical condition and on a ventilator.

Locals described Jaidee’s Bar as a ‘dangerous’ place with potential links to organized crime and the Asian mafia. the Herald Sun reported.

Locals in Laos claimed that Jaidee’s Bar (pictured) has possible ties to the Asian mafia

Locals were reluctant to reveal too much about the bar.

“I can’t say too much, I have to protect my safety,” a source told the publication.

‘The problem is with Jaidee’s Bar. They are dangerous.’

Staff at the bar told the publication that drugs are openly sold to customers.

‘Ketamine costs 400,000 for one gram, opium is 400,000 for one gram. Ecstasy 400,000,” said a bartender.

Balloons filled with nitrous oxide are also sold in the bar, where several guests ordered and used them earlier this week.

Daily Mail Australia does not allege that Ms Bowles or Ms Jones were involved in any form of drug use.

Tests showed that their condition was caused by methanol poisoning.

Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles remains on life support in a critical condition

Jaidee’s Bar offers customers a selection of medicines, including balloons filled with nitrous oxide, which some tourists ordered this week (pictured)

Another bartender from Jaidee’s Bar, calling himself Pepsi, confirmed that shots of Tiger Whiskey had been offered to customers the night the Australians were there, but he was shocked to hear that customers had been hospitalized due to methanol poisoning.

He told the publication he had no memory of serving the Australian teenagers, but denied his bar had infected or added to his free spirits.

An Australian woman who visited Jaidee’s Bar with her partner while on holiday in Vang Vieng added that it was infamous and stayed there while sticking to bottled beer.

“In almost every other country in Southeast Asia, we’ve had cocktails without a second thought. But something told me drinking there wasn’t a sensible option for us,” she said.

Laos police are investigating an alleged mass poisoning after 14 tourists were rushed to hospital after consuming drinks laced with methanol on the same day.

A 56-year-old American man and two young women from Denmark have now died, along with Mrs. Jones.

The bar also has a paper menu advertising medications that can be purchased

Officers descended on the Nana Backpackers Hostel where the Melbourne teens were staying and were seen questioning bar staff on Thursday as they inspected bottles of spirits.

Other tourists in Vang Vieng have been extra careful since the poisonings.

The Australian government updated its travel advice to Laos on its Smartraveller website on Thursday, warning tourists to be wary of spirits-based drinks.

‘Be alert to the potential risks, especially with spirits-based drinks, including cocktails. For more advice on the risks surrounding methanol poisoning and binge drinking,” the website says.

Police stepped up their investigation after Ms Jones’ death on Thursday, with officers questioning staff at Nana Backpackers Hostel.

Staff were interviewed outside the hostel bar and detectives took notes as they lined up bottles of Smirnoff vodka, Havana Club rum and Bombay Sapphire and Gordon’s gin.

Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan and bartender Toan Van Vanng had previously denied that their alcohol was contaminated or diluted with methanol.

Toan said he purchased the alcohol from a certified distributor and free shots of Tiger Vodka were served to about 100 guests that evening.

The manager said he had not yet received any complaints from other backpackers who had received injections.

To prove his point, he even drank from one of the vodka bottles used that night to prove it was safe.

‘Right now the police [are telling] every hostel, hotel and bar must stop selling drinks in Vang Vieng,” he told the Associated Press.