FOI reference: FOI-2026-3427
You asked
I request the number of deaths registered in England and Wales where methanol poisoning was recorded as the underlying cause of death or as a contributory factor, for each calendar year from 2010 to 2025 (or the most recent year for which data is available).
The relevant ICD-10 codes are:
T51.1 - Toxic effect of methanol
X45 - Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol (where methanol is specified)
X65 - Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol (where methanol is specified)
Y15 - Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent (where methanol is specified)
If isolating methanol-specific cases within codes X45, X65, and Y15 proves complex, I would be fully satisfied with data for deaths where:
- T51.1 (Toxic effect of methanol) appeared anywhere on the death certificate, as this provides the clearest methanol identification.
Please provide the data broken down by:
Calendar year of registration
Country (England and Wales separately)
Whether methanol poisoning was the underlying cause or contributory factor
Age band (0-17, 18-34, 35-54, 55-74, 75+)
Sex
We said
Thank you for your request.
We do not currently hold analysis showing deaths due to methanol poisoning or where methanol poisoning is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate. However, we could create a custom output for your showing deaths in 2010 to 2025 where methanol is mentioned on the death certificate and also where the underlying cause was:
X45: Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
X65: Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
Y15: Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent
These services are subject to legal frameworks, disclosure control, resources and agreements of costs in line with our charging policy. Please contact Health.Data@ons.gov.uk for more information.
As this information is reasonably accessible via another route, even if only accessible on payment, Section 21(2)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) applies.