Mackay Base Hospital has successfully used alcoholic beverages to treat a 24-year-old Italian tourist who ingested litres of a poison commonly found in anti-freeze.

After running out of pharmaceutical-grade alcohol used to help stop the poison turning toxic in the stomach, staff of the north Queensland hospital had to give the man rounds of rum, scotch and vodka.

Dr Todd Fraser says while unconventional, the patient was given three standard drinks every hour for three days.

"Fortunately for him he was in a medically induced coma for a good portion of that," he said.

"By the time he woke up I think his hangover would have well and truly gone."